A report: Sudan and Qatar bonds of strong relations
30 August, 2010
The official relations between Sudan and the State of Qatar began in the year 1972, as Sudan was among the first countries that recognized the State of Qatar after its independence. The people of Qatar have themselves contributed to its establishment and foundation of its administrative systems in different fields and specializations, including the Judiciary, education, Police, education, the Armed Forces, the media, medicine, agriculture, architecture …etc.
Only recently relations have witnessed major and important exchange of visits. At the presidential level, the President of the Republic Omar Hassan Ahamed Al Bashir visited the State of Qatar on June, 2005 to participate in the Summit of the G 77 and held talks with the Emir of Qatar. The Emir of Qatar also visited Khartoum in March 2006 to take part in the Arab League's Summit, a matter that reflected positively on and had good impact on the summit atmosphere, especially that a number of Arab leaders were absent from this summit. The President of the Republic visited Doha in March 2007 at the invitation of his Highness the Emir of Qatar to meet with the President of Eritrea, Assaias Afewrki, in the context of Qatari endeavors to enhance the relations between Sudan and Eritrea, and in continuation of endeavors adopted by the Emir of sister Qatar in this regard.
The First Vice- President of the Republic and President of the Government of South Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, paid a visit to the State of Qatar in January 2007 leading a high level delegation that included a number of ministers toward consolidating the bilateral relations. The Presidential Advisor, Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail paid a number of visits to the State of Qatar. At the ministerial level, a number of Sudanese ministers and state ministers have visited Qatar, including the Foreign Minister, the State Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Minister of Tourism, the State Minister for Tourism, the Governor of Khartoum State, the Minister of Physical Planning in Khartoum State, the Minister for Education, the Minister for Social Welfare, Dean of the Bar Association, the Secretary General of the Council for International People's Friendship and several other government officials.
Likewise, a number of Qatari ministers and officials visited Sudan in the past period, including the Governor of the Central Bank, the Minister of Endowments and Islamic Affairs and other Qatari officials.
The Sudanese – Qatari relations are characterized by depth and firmness as the leadership in the two countries are linked to each other with deeply rooted ties that appeared clearly in the exchanged political support at all the regional and international forums, and the coordination in the stances on the issued of mutual concern to the two countries.
The State of Qatar provided a considerable support to Sudan, especially with regard to issues pending before the Security Council when it assumed the world body non-permanent seat in early 2006. Qatar also extended material supports to Sudan in various fields, such as the implementation of Merowe Dam and the institute for qualification of Islamic preachers …etc.
The joint Sudanese – Qatari ministerial committee was established in Doha on March 16, 1998 and held three sessions which witnessed the signing of a number of agreements, memos of understanding and adopted a number of joint action plans in different fields, top of them were the agreements on avoiding double-taxation, encouragement of investment, education, scientific research, health, air transport as well as the cooperation in the youth, cultural, arts and media spheres.
Following establishment of the Economic Committee major Qatari investment companies, like the Qatari Al-Diyyar Investment Company, the Livestock entered into implementation of serious projects in Sudan toward providing motivation for other Qatari companies and businessmen for consolidating the economic relations between the two countries.
2-The Economic Axis:
The State of Qatar is characterized by its unique location in the region, especially after it has become a center for foreign investments in the field of oil, gas and petrochemical industry due to the tremendous oil and gas reserves. Qatar comes second on the production of natural gas and expected to be the top gas producer after discovery of more natural gas resources in Qatar. The Volume of oil production in Qatar is estimated at one million barrels per day. The state remained utilizing the vast financial revenues of oil and gas exports in establishing and promoting the infrastructures in the country since the year 1995. It follows free and open economic policies that are encouraging investment in different fields.
The estimates of revenues in the general budget of Qatar for the year 2007/2008 were put at 72.456.7 billion Qatari riyals, with an increase of 27% than the revenues in the budget of the past year. The estimates of expenditure were set at 65.712.4 billion Qatari riyals.
The major details of the general budget at areas of concern to the citizens: for example the sector goes with 12% of the total expenditure, the expenditure in health services amounted to 07.44%, while the expenditure for establishing infrastructures, which includes services and insurance projects, reached 48%, a matter which reflects the state's concern with the enhancement of the infrastructures and services.
This coupled with the great financial capabilities of the government and private sectors, as illustrated by the statistics of the concerned government authorities and reports of the major banks, reflect the importance of the State of Qatar, represented in its government and private sector, as a potential investor who can positively contribute to bolstering the economic process in Sudan.
Joint efforts by Sudanese nationals and Qatari nationals and officials have resulted in the visit of a Qatari delegation headed by the Governor of Qatar Central Bank to Khartoum in November 2006 during convocation of the Economic Forum. This visit was successful to inform the Qatari investors about the capabilities of Sudan. The visit was concluded by the signing of a protocol of cooperation between the Bank of Sudan and the Qatari Central Bank.
The continuous contacts with the Qatari leadership, represented in the person of the Council of Ministers and Foreign Minister, Sheikh Hamad bin Jasim bin Jabr Al-Thani, resulted in the agreement of Qatar to sponsor the Sudanese – Qatari Investment Forum in Doha during April 29 – 30, 2007.
Sudanese nationals in Qatar: Immigration to the State of Qatar began since the outset of discovery and exploration of oil. The immigration at that time took the shape of individual immigration for working at the petroleum companies and the companies which were established later. This immigration was organized and became collective in the early 1970s when Qatar gained its independence and began building the structures of its modern state.
Qatar decided to seek the experience of Sudanese nationals, thus it brought consultants and experts to help establishing its ministries and important organs. At that time, Sudan managed to dispatch numbers of senior Armed Forces and Police officers, like Field Marshal Abdul-Rahman Suwaral-Dahab, the senior diplomat Mahjoub Makkawi, Al-Fatih Awooda from the Ministry of Justice and other experts from different institutions. These personalities played a great role and in an excellent manner and were appreciated by the Qatari people due to their distinguished efforts, performance, competence, skills, honesty and good deeds.
Afterwards, Sudanese nationals began to migrate in big numbers to Qatar through private contracts or secondement from institutions. Thus, big numbers of Armed Forces and Police officers, non commissioned officers and soldiers, teachers at different education levels, doctors, engineers, lawyers, leading press and media men, sports men and experts in the civil service went there. This was the reason behind the remarkable presence of Sudanese nationals in the State of Qatar.
The first Sudanese community in Qatar was formed in the year 1985. The statistics of the Qatari Ministry of Interior revealed that the number of the Sudanese nationals in Qatar reached 31,000 persons. The Sudanese community in Qatar includes labors, which is the biggest category; most of them are camel herders at Al-Shahaniya area, employees, militants, engineers, doctors, pharmacists, veterinary doctors, agronomists, lawyers, economists, media men, university lecturers. There are a considerable number of Sudanese nationals assuming leading positions at the areas of their work. Members of the Sudanese community are linked to each others with professional and geographical links.
Relation between the Mission with the Community:
Members of the Sudanese community in Qatar are characterized by their love to the homeland regardless of their political orientations or tribal affiliations. Thus, recent endeavors succeeded in formation an elected Community Council, which included all the professional categories.
These considerable efforts of the community members in support of their homeland could be attributed to the close ties between them and the Embassy which is characterized by mutual respect and cooperation. The embassy is doing its best to gain respect of the community members and to keep them linked with the issues of the homeland and Sudan issues. This strong relation appeared evidently in the extensive of the Sudanese in Qatar at the various activities and occasions and their participation in all the cultural, sports and social celebrations that are held or attended by the diplomatic mission.
Tayfur Fagiri/Amal M Al Hassan/ Mohhy Eddin Osman/Mohamed Osman
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