India-Sudan Bilateral Brief

 Embassy of India
Khartoum
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Bilateral Brief: India-Sudan Relations
Relations between India and Sudan date back to ancient times. Evidences indicate that there were contacts and possibly trade almost 5,000 years ago between Nilotic and Indus Valley Civilizations through Mesopotamia. 
2.       Two steel suspension rail bridges in Khartoum and Atbara were imported from India in the 1900s. These bridges are still in use today. Since 1900, Indian experts have been involved in the development of Sudan's forestry sector. Mahatma Gandhi visited Port Sudan in 1935, on his way to England and met with the members of the Indian diaspora in Sudan.
3.       The first Sudanese Parliamentary elections in 1953 were conducted by Shri Sukumar Sen, the then India’s Chief Election Commissioner (the Sudanese Election Commission, formed in 1957, drew heavily on Indian elections norms and laws). A Sudanization Committee established in February 1954 to replace British officials finished its work in April 1955 with budgetary support from India for compensation payments.
4.       India opened diplomatic representation in Khartoum in March 1955. In April 1955, interim Prime Minister of Sudan Ismail Al Azhari and several Ministers transited through New Delhi on their way to Bandung for the first Afro-Asian Relations Conference.
Recent Visits/Political Interactions:
5.       Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs held a virtual meeting with Acting Foreign Minister of Sudan on 14 December 2020 in which bilateral relations, regional and international issues of mutual interest were reviewed. Both sides identified several areas for furthering cooperation in sectors such as infrastructure, agriculture, mining, renewable energy, health and education, defence & security cooperation etc. EAM and the Sudanese FM Dr. Mariam Al-Sadig Al-Mahdi held a telecon on 27 August 2021.
6.       Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs visited Republic of Sudan from 18-19 October, 2021.  During the visit, he called on H.E. General Abdel Fatah Al Burhan Abdel Rahman, Head of Transitional Sovereignty Council and H.E. Dr. Abdallah Hamdok, Prime Minister. MoS had discussions with H.E. Dr. Mariam Al-Sadig Al-Mahdi, Foreign Minister on bilateral cooperation and reviewed the entire gamut of our bilateral relations.
7.         Ms. Amal Saleh, Minister of Trade and Supply visited India in July 2022 to attend CII-EXIM Bank India- Africa Conclave.
8.       Lt. Gen. Anan Hamed Mohamed Omer, Interior Minister and Director General of Police visited India in Nov 2022 to attend the 3rd Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing (NMFT)
9.       A two-member defence delegation comprising Lt. Gen. Esam Mohamed Hassan Karar, Secretary General, MoD and Lt. Gen. Rashad Abd Alhamid Ismail, Commdr of the Ground Forces, Sudan visited India in Oct 2022 to attend DEFEXPO-2022.
10.     H.E. Dr. Gibril Ibrahim Mohammed, Hon’ble Minister of Finance and Economic Planning, Republic of Sudan participated in the  Voice of the Global South Summit –(virtual format: 12-13 January 2023) hosted by India .

Bilateral Institutional Mechanisms
11.     The India-Sudan Joint Committee (formed in January 1995) was upgraded to a Joint Ministerial Commission (JCM) at Ministerial level in June 1997. The first JCM was held in 1997 at New Delhi, second JCM met in 2000 at Khartoum and the third round JCM was organized in New Delhi on 20-21 February 2017.
12.     Foreign Office Consultations between India and Sudan have been held periodically with the first taking place in September 2000 in Khartoum and the 8th one in New Delhi on 3 December 2018 at the level of JS (WANA).
Bilateral Agreements
13.     India and Sudan have almost 30 bilateral agreements covering trade, science and technology, media, culture, consultations, business, small industries, legal matters, air services, agriculture etc.
Bilateral Trade
14.     India is a significant trade partner of Sudan. India primarily exports food stuffs, petroleum products, manufactured goods, machinery and equipment, chemicals including pharmaceuticals and textiles to Sudan. Sudan mainly exports sesame seed, gum Arabic, cotton, water melon seeds, hides and skins and ground nuts to India. Bilateral trade between both countries is on a steep rise, lately. A 14-member FIEO delegation visited Sudan in Nov 2022 to hold meetings with Union of Chambers of Commerce of Sudan to explore opportunities for trade. A snapshot of our bilateral trade in USD million is given in the following table:

Year	India’s Exports	India’s Imports	Total Bilateral Trade
2016-17	748.71	245.15	993.86
2017-18	822.72	452.07	1274.79
2018-19	920.88	742.63	1663.51
2019-20	1,096.88	396.75	1493.63
2020-21	1,022.33	368.28	1390.61
2021-22	1,077.25	129.15	1206.4
2022-23:   Jan-Nov.2022	1322.16	160.20	1482.36
2022-23: Apr-Nov. 2022	939.31	131.87	1071.18

 Source: DGFT, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India
Economic Relations
15.     ONGC Videsh Limited had invested USD 2.3 billion in the oil industry in the undivided Sudan by acquisition through OVL of 25% shares of Talisman Energy Inc. of Canada in the Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company consortium in early 2000.
16.     Sudan is a beneficiary of India’s Duty Free and Preferential Treatment (DFTP) Scheme for Least Developed Countries (LDCs) since 2009 and Exports to India from Sudan have been gradually rising. The DFTP Scheme grants duty free access on about 96% of India's total tariff lines, preferential access (Positive List) on about 2.2% of tariff lines and only 1.8% tariff lines are under the Exclusion List.
17.     A number of Indian companies have presence in Sudan in different fields such as pharmaceuticals, agriculture, mining, energy services etc. Indian experts and workers are also present in different sectors like IT, pharmaceutical, sugar, steel industry, ceramic industry etc. and are making a significant contribution. A number of steel units are owned by PIOs such as Liberty Steel, Omega Steel and Aarti Steel, which is a subsidiary of Bhushan Group. PIOs with Gujarati roots have been staying in Omdurman area for last 150 years. They own manufacturing concerns such as packaging, plastics, food and beverage, etc., but most of them are in trading activities. Indian pharmaceutical companies are very active in Sudan and are a source of formulations and active pharmaceutical ingredients (API). Indian Pharmaceutical machinery manufacturers have put up a number of lines of manufacturing units for the pharmaceutical industry of Sudan.
18.     Vegetable oil machinery manufacturers and consultants have put up a number of manufacturing lines for the major food groups in Sudan. Orient Fan, which has a major share and is a market leader in Sudan, is represented by an Indian origin businessman. Major Indian brands in pharma like Sun Pharma, Cadilla etc. have representations and so do major automotive companies like Tata, Mahindra and Bajaj. As per National Investment Authority of Sudan, total Indian investments in Sudan up to Dec 2019 amounted to more than US$ 471.5 million with 86 investment projects including 51 industrial projects, 21 service projects and 14 agricultural projects.
Capacity Building
19.     The main focus of bilateral engagement has been on capacity building, political, commercial and cultural exchanges.  Sudanese scholars have also been selected for the C.V. Raman Fellowship Programme. Sudanese diplomats have been attending Professional Courses for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) organized by Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Services (SSIFS). In November 2019, 40 Sudanese Government professionals had undergone a special English language proficiency course in Hyderabad; 25 Sudanese Judges went to Bengaluru in December 2019 for a special training programme; a group of 50 officials from various Sudanese Ministries/ Agencies attended a special English course in Hyderabad in March 2020. In February 2019, a group of 46 Sudanese young diplomats attended a 15-day special course at FSI. Sudanese students avail scholarships for higher education in India offered by ICCR. The number of annual ITEC slots being offered to Sudan is the maximum in the region. A large number of Sudanese government employees have undergone various customized training courses under ITEC.

Year	ICCR Slots	Actual Utilization	ITEC slots	Actual Utilization	ITEC (Defence) slots
					Seats Offered	Utilized
2016-17	27	25	200	191	11	04
2017-18	27	09	200	190	27	07
2018-19	27	23	225	218	23	16
2019-20	27	17	270	259	18	09
2020-21	60	60	270	36 (e-ITEC)	23	03
2021-22	60	53	270	18 (e-ITEC)	41	13
2022-23 (till Dec. 2022)	60	60	270	231	48	8
2023-24	60	22	270	0	0	0
2024-25	72	72	270	0	0	0

20.     Under Government of India’s “Pan-African E-Network” project for first phase, which ended in 2017, Sudan utilized the services of tele-education and tele-medicine. Government of India has launched the second phase of this project with enhanced capacity and superior equipment called e-Vidya Bharati (tele-education) and Arogya Bharati (tele-medicine) [e-VBAB]. This project will be set up in three educational institutions and one hospital in Sudan. Enrollment for distance learning courses under e-Vidya Bharati has also taken place.
Projects and Lines of Credit
21.     A number of Lines of Credit have been extended to the Government of Sudan beginning with Rs. 20 million Line of Credit in 1980. During President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam’s visit in 2003, US$ 50 million LoC was extended to Sudan (the first ever on G-to-G basis) for Indian goods and services in power, solar energy, railways and laboratory equipment. Various Lines of Credit extended to the Government of Sudan, through EXIM Bank of India are as below:

Year	Amount (million US$)	Purpose / Project/ Details
2004	50.00	Supply of electrification, equipment, photo-voltaic cells, diesel coaches, copper rods, textile machinery and rehabilitation of locomotive products.
2006	350.00	4 X 125 MW Kosti combined cycle power plant executed by BHEL. All 4 units synchronized, commissioned in Jan 2016. BHEL has outstanding dues of USD 30.98 million from the project.
2006	41.90	Sinja-Gedarif Transmission and Sub-Station project
2007	48.00	For supply of agriculture inputs, technical and laboratory equipment, scientific equipment, solar electrification and Sudan Railways supplies.
2007	52.00	37.44 million for Gadarif- Galabat transmission line, micro-industrial projects and development of livestock production and services. The original amount of LoC was reduced to US$ 37.44 million.
2009 & 2013	25.00	Mashkour Sugar Plant in While Nile State. 1st tranche of US$ 25 million has been disbursed. 2nd tranche of USD 125 million could not be disbursed due to various irregularities, inability of Government of Sudan to mobilize local contributions of US$ 80 million, inability of Government of Sudan to pay LoC dues and non-optimal utilization of current capacity of existing sugar mills.

 

22.     In April 2006, India funded a solar electrification (implemented by Central Electronics Ltd) for Khadarab village about two-hours road journey from Khartoum, bringing light for the first time into the lives of some 1,500 villagers. The project has been replicated in several other villages.
Kosti Thermal Power Plant
23.     Kosti Thermal Power Plant built by BHEL is located at Um- Dabaker in Sudan with capacity of 500 MW (4 X 125 MW). This is the largest thermal power plant in Sudan, the biggest combined cycle project built by BHEL in Africa. It is BHEL's largest oil-fired thermal power plant in the overseas market and also its first crude-oil fired thermal power plant in Africa. The project is financed under LoC of US$ 350 million to Sudan. The power plant was commissioned in February 2016. BHEL executed the project on engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) basis. Sudan still owes to BHEL US$ 25.5 million for this project and has been promising to pay up but no payment has been forthcoming.
Mashkour Sugar Project
24.     Mashkour Sugar Project is funded under LoC of US$ 150 million in 2 tranches of US$ 25 million and US$ 125 million as agreed in January 2009. The project aims to produce 1,13,000 tons of white sugar. It also envisages co-generation of 33 KW of electricity and 75 KL of ethanol per day. In October 2009, a contract was signed between Mashkour Sugar Company (MSC) and Overseas Infrastructure Alliance India private limited (OIA) as the main contractor for US$ 149.975 million.
Humanitarian Assistance / HADR
25.     India donated tents and medicines for flood victims in Gezira State of Sudan in 1978 and gifted medicines to control the Leishmaniasis (kala-azar) epidemic in South Sudan in 1983. India gifted 22,560 tons of wheat in 1985 and another 6,000 tons in 1987.
26.     Following devastating floods in Khartoum in 1996, India airlifted urgently needed medicines. In October 2003, India provided US$ 50,000 of medicines for the victims of the floods in Kassala region. In response to the Sudanese Government’s request, India donated 20,000 tons of wheat as humanitarian assistance to the people of Darfur in March 2005. In 2008, India donated tents and medicines worth US$ 100,000 for flood relief in Sudan.
27.     ONGC Videsh Ltd (OVL) donated generously for a school for special children, sports equipment, prostheses etc. In July 2007, at the request of elders of the Shilluk community, OVL donated a power generator to Kodok town in Fashdoda County of Upper Nile State which is now in South Sudan. In 2016, OVL donated solar street lights to a village in Ombadda area of Khartoum State. On 15 August 2007, Indian company Angelique International Ltd gifted US$ 5,000 to renovate the Indian school in Kassala town, while OVL helped to refurbish Indian Club in Port Sudan. Several Indian companies in Sudan contributed generously for repairs of a school in Kadugli done by the Indian army battalion posted there in UNMIS.
28.     Following record breaking floods in July-August 2020 and the ongoing COVID pandemic, GOI donated 100 MT food aid (75 MT white flour and 25 MT sugar) as HADR supplies on November 2, 2020 at Port Sudan delivered by INS Airavat. In April 2021, GOI also donated 6 Tonnes of life saving essential medicines to Sudan.

 

Defence and Security Cooperation
29.     The opening of Defence and Consular Wings at Embassy of India, Khartoum in 2015 and 2016 respectively is helping in augmenting relations. Our Deputy NSA visited Sudan in July 2015. A 2-member delegation from Goa Shipyard Limited visited Sudan in May 2018 to assess the requirement of Offshore Patrol Vessels. Deputy Director of Military Industry Corporation and Director General of International Relations from Ministry of Defence of Sudan visited DEFEXPO-2018 in Chennai. A two-member defence delegation led by Lt. Gen. Amarjeet Singh Bedi, DG DIA & DCIDS (Int) visited Khartoum in December 2018. For the first time, an Indian army officer at Lt Col. Level attended the one-year Joint Command and Staff College course of Sudan in 2018. A two-member defence delegation comprising Lt. Gen. Esam Mohamed Hassan Karar, Secretary General, MoD and Lt. Gen. Rashad Abd Alhamid Ismail, Commer of the Ground Forces, Sudan visited India in Oct 2022 to attend DEFEXPO-2022. An all-women engagement platoon comprising of two officers and 25 soldiers has reached Abyei-UNISFA in January 2023. This is the India’s largest single unit women deployment in UN mission. The platoon specializes in security and community outreach activities. The platoon will be part of the Indian battalion in UNISFA and will enhance the connect of peacekeepers with women and children in Abyei society.
30.     A contingent from Sudan Armed Forces participated in Africa-India Field Training Exercise (AFINDEX-2019) in Pune in March 2019. In 2019, a team of 16 senior officers of National Defence from Nimeiry Defence Academy visited India on study tour which was hosted by National Defence College, New Delhi. High level Sudanese delegation has been regularly participating in AERO-INDIA-2019, DEF-EXPO 2020, AERO-INDIA-2021 and DEF-EXPO-2022.
31.     INS Airavat made an OTR port call at Port Sudan on 2-4 November 2020, in a first after 1995, carrying 100 MT of HADR supplies for Sudan. INS Tabar undertook a Maritime Exercise (PASSEX) with the Sudanese Navy in the Sudanese territorial waters in the Red Sea on 10 September 2021. Two Sudanese warships Abdelfadil Almaz and Almak-Nimr took part in the exercises, the first ever bilateral maritime exercise involving a wide range of naval operations. In February 2022, a delegation from Defence Industries System of Sudan visited various Indian Firms. During the visit, three MOUs with Rashtriya Metal Industries Ltd (RIML), Advanced Weapons and Equipment India Limited (AWEIL) and Hyderabad Precision Manufacturing have been signed. DIS has also submitted two MOUs to Yantra India Limited (YIL) and Munition India Ltd (MIL), which are pending with these firms. On 07 July 2022, Joint Maritime Exercises were conducted by the Indian Naval Ship Tarkash along with Sudan Naval ships Almazz and Nimer in the Red Sea.
Cooperation in Health Sector
32.     Healthcare is an important sector for cooperation between the two countries. In pursuance of the commitments made under IAFS-III, mid-career specialized training courses are conducted at regular intervals at renowned hospitals in India like Apollo, Fortis and Artemis. India has become the major destination for Sudanese patients to avail medical treatment. Mission issued 6175 Medical/medical attendant visas in 2019, 3284 (2020), 4049 (2021) and 6966 (2022). Prominent hospitals like Apollo, Yashoda, Fortis are in the process of setting up information centres in Sudan to better serve the Sudanese patients. Qualified diagnostic/radiology units are still in shortage in Sudan. India’s low cost and precision laboratories will get good opportunities in this sector as well. Sudanese side had requested Indian expertise in treatment of medical waste. India has one of the largest share in Pharma products (formulations and APIs) imports in Sudan. In addition, Pharma manufacturing companies in Sudan also source machinery from India for pharma manufacturing units. Recently, a comprehensive draft MOU for Cooperation in Health Sector has been shared with the Sudanese side.
Educational Cooperation
33.     About 1500 students travel to India annually for higher studies mainly to Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. More than 100,000 Sudanese, graduates of Indian Universities, have carved a niche for themselves in their chosen fields and some of them are holding high positions in government and business. The number of student visas issued by the Mission is increasing every year. Mission issued nearly 1775 student visas in 2019, 507 during 2020, 1007 in 2021 and 1454 in 2022. Under e-VBAB, online distance education courses for higher education are being offered to Sudanese students. Besides, under ‘Study in India Scholarship’ programme, Sudanese students go to India every year for higher studies.

Agriculture
34.     India had in the past provided germ plasm for Neem, Mango and Ashok trees. Sudan had also requested help for technical know-how for rice production; small scale sugar mills of capacity up to 200 TCD (Tons of Cane Per Day). Some areas of cooperation could be twinning of agricultural universities; capacity building in micro-finance; bio-fertilizers; cow and sheep breeding technology; warehousing; rain water harvesting; milk cooperatives etc. Considering the potential, India and Sudan had signed two MoUs for cooperation in the field of agriculture and agricultural research in 2006 but there has not been any tangible cooperation. During the last Joint Ministerial Meeting, the Indian side suggested to send a multi-disciplinary composite delegation of scientists and experts from agricultural and allied sectors. A comprehensive draft MoU has been submitted to the Sudanese side for consideration. 
Cooperation in Disaster Management
35. A virtual meeting was held on 8 July 2021 with participation from Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI), NDMA, UNDP, MEA, the and Mr. Omer Gamereldin, Sudan PM’s Advisor on International Partnerships (former Acting FM of Sudan) for preliminary deliberations on the assistance request from Sudanese side. The request was routed through the UNDP office in Khartoum. In the meeting, it was agreed that CDRI and NDMA will develop detailed proposals spelling out the roles of each party for further action. The Second virtual meeting was held on 15 September 2021 to review the proposed Term of Reference and to identify next steps in preparation for the visit by a team from India to Sudan.
Cooperation in e-Governance and ICT
36.     On the request of Sudanese side, a virtual meeting between National Information Centre (NIC) of Sudan and Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) was held on 23 August 2021 to understand the Aadhar project of India. On a request from Sudan’s PM Office for assistance in developing e-governance system in Sudan, the Mission in partnership with NIC, Sudan organized a webinar on ‘Sharing India’s experience in e-Governance’ in Khartoum on 2 September 2021.
37.     A Letter of Intent (LoI) on cooperation in exchange of ideas, information, personnel, skills, capacity building and regulatory experience was signed between Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and Telecommunication and Post Regulatory Authority (TPRA) of Sudan during a virtual meeting on 6 April 2021. Under the LoI, TRAI has conducted a five-day Capacity Building Programme from 20-24 September 2021 for TPRA officers virtually.
38.     An MoU between Sudanese Standards & Metrology Organisation (SSMO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) was signed on 25 February 2021. To discuss concrete cooperation the two sides held a virtual meeting in March 2021. Under the MoU, BIS provided right to SSMO to use indigenously developed Indian Standards. Some online training programmes will also be offered by to SSMO.
Cultural Relations
39.     The Agreement on Cultural Exchange Programme (CEP) has not been renewed after 2002. Despite no CEP being in force, Government of Sudan has been extending logistic assistance to cultural troupes visiting Sudan. ICCR sponsored cultural troupes regularly visit Sudan. A 15-member Sudanese artisan and artists group has participated in the Surajkund International Crafts Mela in February 2020 and March-April 2022 and February 2023.
40.     ICCR and Alzaeim Al Azhari University in Khartoum signed an MoU in May 2016 to open a Hindi Chair at the University which became operational in February 2017 when the first Hindi Teacher joined the Chair for a tenure of two years which ended in February 2019. Mission has been organizing International Day of Yoga (IDY) since 2015 in Khartoum with significant participation of the local populace and Yoga enthusiasts. Mission has organized various events to celebrate Gandhiji’s 150th birth anniversary.
41.     To commemorate the 75 years of India’s Independence on 1 April 2021, the Mission organised the ‘Curtain Raiser to the 75-week countdown to India@75’. Mission organized an official function as part of the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrations and to mark the 75th Independence Day of India at on 15 August. Since April 2021, Mission has been organizing several events to mark ‘Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
42      Three ICCR sponsored cultural troupes ((i) A to Z Bollywood Music & Dance Group (12-15 Nov 2023)  (ii) 8 member Gujarati Folk Group, "Kalapath Sanstha" from 2 -4 February 2023 and (iii) 11 member Maharashtrian cultural troupe “ Bhavani Productions” from 30.11.2022 to 02.12.2022. visited Sudan had enthralling performances at  Friendship Hall, Al Neelain University, Ahfad University, Ribat University, Omdurman National Theatre, Omdurman Indian Club and India-Sudan Friendship Club.
Indian Community
43      Out of about 4,000 Indians in Sudan, the settled Indian community in Sudan is now about 1200, which is there for about 150 years. The first Indian Luvchand Amarchand Shah, a Gujarati trader who imported goods from India, is believed to have come to Sudan from Aden in 1856. When his business expanded, he brought his relatives from Saurashtra, who in turn invited their own friends and family. This is how the Indian community grew and developed in Sudan initially. From the small towns in the eastern part of the country (Port Sudan and Sawakin), the early Indian pioneers moved into the interior of the country and settled down in Omdurman, Kassala, Gedaref and Wad Medani. Dr. Anil Kumar Mithani, a PIO and prominent Sudanese national was conferred Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award (PBSA) 2021 for his contribution to medicine.
44.     Other expatriate Indian community members are working as professionals in key sectors of the Sudanese economy. There are a few Indians working in the UN Missions and other international organizations.
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Annexure ‘A’
Visits from India to Sudan:

S.N.	Name of the visitor	Date/Remarks
1.	Prime Minister Shri Jawaharlal Nehru	July 1957 soon after independence of Sudan
2	Vice President Dr. Zakir Hussain	1963
3.	President Shri Fakruddin Ali Ahmed	1975
4.	President Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam	October 2003
5.	Mother Teresa	October 1986, Opened several homes for the poor and destitute
6.	Shri Ajit Kumar Panja, MOS, External Affairs	April 2000
7.	Shri Omar Abdullah MOS for Commerce &Industry	February 2001. Participated in the Khartoum International Trade Fair
8.	Shri Rajiv Pratap Rudi	January 2002. Briefed Sudanese government on the terrorist attack on the Indian Parliament
9.	Dr. Najma Heptulla, Deputy Chairperson of Rajya Sabha	Led a 4-member parliamentary delegation in January 2002
10.	National Defence College delegation	May 2003
11.	Shri E. Ahamed, MoS for External Affairs	November 2005 with 20-member business delegation
12.	Shri E Ahamed, MoS for External Affairs	March 2006, to address the plenary inaugural session of the 18thSummit of the League of Arab States in Khartoum, (India was the only non-Arab nation, in addition to Turkey)
13.	Shri Sontosh Mohan Dev, Minister for Heavy Industry	February 2006 for signing of the LOC- funded Kosti power project being implemented by BHEL.
14.	Shri E. Ahamed, MoS for External Affairs	June 2011
15.	Mr. Amarendra Khatua, Special Envoy of Government of India to the Sudan-South Sudan	March 2012, Conveyed India’s concerns with respect to the oil impasse between both Parties, highlighting the impact of the same on OVL’s current operations and future investment plans.
15.	Mr. Amarendra Khatua, Special Envoy of Government of India to the Sudan-South Sudan	May 2012
16.	Mr. P.S. Raghavan, India’s Special Envoy to Sudan	December 2012, met a number of ministers of the cabinet including the President of Sudan
17.	Air Marshall Kulwant Singh Gill, Commandant of NDA	June 2013. Met with the Secretary General of Ministry of Defence of Sudan
18.	Shri Salman Khurshid, EAM	April 2014. Met with his counterpart, Minister of Petroleum and called on President of Sudan.
19.	Dr. Arvind Gupta, Deputy National Security Advisor	July 2015.
20.	Gen. V. K. Singh, State, MoS as Special Envoy	September 2015; Met President Bashir and delivered the formal invitation for IAFS-III held in New Delhi.
21	Shri V. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs	October 2021; Met Gen. Abdel Fatah Al Burhan Abdel Rahman, Head of Transitional Sovereignty Council, Dr. Abdallah Hamdok, Prime Minister and Dr. Mariam Al-Sadig Al-Mahdi, Foreign Minister. Visited the National Energy Research Centre, Khartoum to which India had provided photovoltaic modules fabrication machines way back in 2007 under Exim Bank’s Line of Credit.

 

From Sudan to India:

S.No.	Name of the visitor	Date/Remarks
1.	PM of the Interim Government, Ismail El Azhari	1955, Transited through India
2.	President Ibrahim Abboud	1964, India offered a LoC of Rs. 50 million during the visit.
3.	President Ismail El Azhari	1967
4.	President Jaffer Nimeiri	1974
5.	President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir	Transited through India in July 1999
6.	President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir	Transited through Mumbai in July 2002 on his way back to Khartoum from Malaysia.
7.	Ahmed Ibrahim Al Tahir Speaker of the National Assembly of Sudan	January 2003, to participate in the celebrations of 50thanniversary of India’s Parliament.
8.	Vice President Ali Osman Taha	Transited through New Delhi en route to Jakarta in July 2002
9.	Ali Osman Taha, Foreign Minister (then First Vice President)	June 1995 and again in April 1997 to attend NAM Ministerial Conference
10.	Dr. Awad Ahmed Al Jaz, Minister of Energy and Mining, Maj. Gen. Bakri Hassan Saleh Minister of Defence and Minister of Transport Mr. Mohammed El Samani El Wasila	December 2003
11.	Dr. Awad Ahmed Al Jaz	November 2007; to attend India-Africa Hydrocarbon Conference.
12.	Dr. Mustafa Osman Ismail, Minister of Foreign Affairs	June 2005
13.	Sudan’s Minister for Agriculture and Forestry	June 2006; to seek India’s support for Sudan’s agricultural development and signed two MoUs
14.	Maj Gen Abdul Raheem Mohammed Hussain, Minister of Interior	January 2005; signed an MoU on cooperation between the interior ministries
15.	Dr. Awad Al Karim Fadalla, Adviser to Foreign Minister	February 2005; fourth Foreign Office Consultations
16.	Dr Awad Al-Jaz, Minister of Finance	October 2008; as Sudan President’s Special Envoy
17.	Mr. Mohamed Yousif Abdalla, Minister for Culture, Youth and Sports	December 2008, to attend the launch of the Indo-Arab Partnership Forum and Cultural Festival
18.	Dr. El Zubeir Ahmed Elhassan, Sudan’s Minister of Energy and Mining	January 2009; to participate in PETROTECH 2009
19.	Dr. Issa Bushra Mahamd Hamid, Minister of Science and Technology and Mr. Elsadig Mahamed Ali Elsheikh, Minister of State for Electricity and Dams	October 2010; to participate in ‘The Delhi International Renewable Energy Conference (DIREC 2010)’
20.	Dr. Lual Acuek Deng, Minister of Petroleum	November 2010; to attend the ninth International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition ‘PETROTECH 2010” in New Delhi
21.	Mr. Awad Al Jaz, Minister of Industry	November 2010.
22.	Mr. Ali Karti, Foreign Minister	April 2011; as President’s envoy
23.	Mr. Kamal Hassan Ali, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs	February 2011; to attend the Ministerial Meeting on ‘Harnessing the positive contribution of South-South Cooperation for Development of Least Developed Countries
24.	Dr. Al FatihIzzalden Mansour Ahmed, MP and Chairperson of the Committee on Labour, Administration	March 2012; to participate in the Programme organized by India for young parliamentarians from Africa.
25.	State Minister of Finance and National Economy	March 2012; to participate in the CII-Exim Bank Conclave at New Delhi
26.	22 member Sudanese Women’s Parliamentary Study Group	March 2012, hosted by the Bureau of Parliamentary Studies and Training (BPST).
27.	Dr. (Mrs.) Tabita Potros Tei Shokai Boutros, State Minister of Electricity and Water Resources	To participate in the Global Ministerial Level International Seminar on Energy Access held in New Delhi in Oct 2012.
28.	Mr. Hassan Abdelgadir Hilal, Minister for Environment, Forestry and Physical Development	To participate in the 11thConference of Parties (COP) of the convention of biological diversity and 6thMeeting of Parties (MOP) to the Cartagena protocol held in Hyderabad in October 2012.
29.	Mr. Awad Al-Jaz, Minister of Petroleum	October 2012; to attend the 10th International Oil and Gas Conference and Exhibition, ‘PETROTECH 2012’ organized in New Delhi
30.	Mr. Ali Mahmoud Mohamed, Minister of Finance and National Economy	July 2013; for rescheduling of the existing of Lines of Credit (LoCs), capitalization of overdue interests on LoCs and release of second tranche of LoC for Mashkour Sugar Company.
31.	Mr. Hatim Abuelgasin Mukhtar M Elamin, Sudan’s State Minister of Petroleum	January 2014; to attend PETROTECH 2014 organized in New Delhi
32.	Mr Al Simah Al Siddiq Al Nour, Minister of Industry and Mr Magdi Hassan Yasin, State Minister of Finance	March 2014; to attend the 10th CII- EXIM Bank Conclave on India-Africa Project Partnership (March 9-11, 2014)
33.	President Omar Hassan Ahmed Al Bashir	October, 2015; to participate in 3rd India-Africa Forum Summit held in New Delhi.
34.	Mr. Elsadig M Ali H. Al Rasoul, State Minister for Trade	January 2016; to attend the 22ndCII Partnership Summit in Vishakhapatnam.
35.	Mr. Mohd Zayad Awad, Minister of Oil and Gas	January 2016: to attend 4th India-Africa Hydrocarbons Conference in New Delhi.
36.	Mr. Ahmed Awad Ibn Auf, Minister of Defense	March 2016; to attend the ‘Defexpo-2016’ in Goa.
37.	Mr. Mohd Makawi Awad, Minister of Roads, Bridges and Transportation	April 2016; to attend the ‘Maritime India-2016’ in Mumbai.
38.	Mr. Mohd Zayad Awad, Minister of Oil and Gas	5-7 December 2016: to attend the ‘Petrotech-2016’ New Delhi.
39.	Mr. Elsadig M Ali H. Al Rasoul, State Minister for Trade	January 2017; to attend the 23nd CII Partnership Summit in Vishakhapatnam.
40.	Prof. Ibrahim A. Ghandour, Foreign Minister	February 2017; to co-chair the Joint Committee Meeting in New Delhi.
41.	Dr. Awad Ahmed Mohamed Aljaz, Presidential Assistant on BRICS File	25-27 March 2018; to attend CII-EXIM Bank Conclave in New Delhi.
42.	Eng. Saad Al-din Hussein ElbushraAbdelmagid, Minister of State for Oil and Gas	10-12 April 2018; to participate in 16th Ministerial meeting of International Energy Forum in New Delhi.
43.	Dr. Mohamed Osman Al-Rikabi, Minister of Finance and Economic Planning	25-26 June 2018; to participate in the 3rd Meeting of the Asian Bank for Infrastructure Investment in Mumbai
44.	Dr. Awad Ahmed Al-Jazz, Assistant to President and Deputy Chairman of the National Committee on Sudan’s relations with BRICS countries	6-10 August, 2018 to hold bilateral discussions on restructuring of payment of EXIM Bank’s LOCs, further extension of LOCs, payment of pending dues of OVL, bilateral cooperation in hydrocarbons, mining, agriculture, finance, solar energy etc
45.	Minister of Health Dr. Mohamed Abuzaid Mustafa Mohamed Gameel	29 Sept – 2 October 2018 to participate in the Mahatma Gandhi International Sanitation Convention on in New Delhi.
46.	Mr. Khider Mohamed Gasmelseed Ahmad, Minister of Water Resources, Irrigation and Electricity	2-5 October 2018 to participate in the General Assembly of ISA in New Delhi and 2nd Re-Invest.
47.	Mr. Saadeldin Hussein Al Bushra Abdelmajid, MOS, for Petroleum, Gas and Minerals	10-12 February 2019 to attend ‘Petrotech 2019’ at Greater Noida.
48	First Lt Gen Isameldin Mubark Hubiballa Ibrahim, Deputy Chief of the Joint Staff of Sudan Armed Forces	AERO INDIA-2019 at Bengaluru.
49.	Dr. Hamid Suliman Hamid, Undersecretary, Ministry of Energy and Mining	October 30-November 2, 2019 to attend the 2nd General Assembly of International Solar Alliance (ISA) held in New Delhi
50.	Mr. Mohamed Ali Abdalla Mohamed Ali, Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade	November 6-7, 2019 to attend India-WANA Conclave in Cairo.
51.	Mrs. Fathia Abd Al Bagi Fadul, Judge	February 21-23 2020 for International Judicial Conference in New Delhi
52	Lt Gen Mohammed Menti Anger Kladia, Secretary General, MoD, Sudan	DEFEXPO 2020. The delegation also attended India-Africa Defence Ministers’ Conclave 2020 (IADMC 2020).
53.	Mr. Khairy Abdelrahman Ahmed, Acting Minister of Energy and Mining	Participated in the valedictory session of ISA’S first world solar technology Summit on 8 September 2020 virtually
54	Lt Gen Issameldin Saeid Koko, Commander of Air Force	AERO INDIA-2021
55	Ms. Amal Saleh, Minister of Trade and Supply	CII-Exim Bank India Africa Conclave, July 2022
56	Lt. Gen Esam Mohmed Hassan Karar, Secretary General, MoD, Sudan Lt. Gen. Rashad Abd Alhamid Ismail, Commander of the Ground Forces, Sudan	Def. Delegation for DEFEXPO 2022
57	Lt. Gen. Anan Hamed Mohamed Omer, Interior Minister and Director General of Police visited India in Nov 2022 to attend	The 3rd Ministerial Conference on Counter-Terrorism Financing (NMFT): Nov 2022
58.	2 member delegation from the National Audit Chamber of Sudan	International Workshop on “Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies including Green Finance” organized by the International Centre for Environment Audit & Sustainable Development (iCED) at Jaipur from 13 to 17 February 2023.
59	8 member delegation from the Telecommunications and Post Regulatory Authority (TPRA) of Sudan	Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) office in New Delhi from 8-10 February 2023
60	6 member youth delegation	Republic day camp organized by DG NCC from 16-30 Jan 2023.
61	4  member delegation from the Trade & Supply Ministry of Sudan participated in the 19th Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).	Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) organized the 19th edition of the flagship CII India Africa Business Conclave from 20 – 22 August 2024 at Hotel Taj Palace, New Delhi. The Conclave was being organized in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce & Industry and the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India.

Annexure B

Bilateral Agreements/MoUs between India and Sudan

S. No.	Details of Treaty/Agreement/MoU	Status
1	Cultural Agreement	Signed: 1974
2	Agreement on Economic, Technical and Scientific Co-operation	Signed: 1974
3	Protocol for Science &Technology Co-operation between CSIR and National Council for Research	Signed: 1985
4	Agreement for the creation of Indo-Sudanese Joint Committee for Economic, Technical, Commercial, Information, Political, Trade and Cultural Co-operation	Signed: 1995
5	Trade and Economic Cooperation Agreement	Signed: 2000
6	Agreement on the Establishment of Joint Business Council between the Sudanese Businessmen General Federation(SBGF) and FICCI	Signed: 2000
7	Agreement for co-operation in the field of development of Small Scale Enterprises sector in Sudan	Signed: 2000
8	Protocol on Co-operation in the field of Radio and Television between Prasar Bharati (Broadcasting Corporation of India) and Sudanese Radio and Television.	Signed: 2000
9	MOU on Consultations between MEA and the Ministry of External Relations of Sudan	Signed: 2000
10	Agreement between the FSI and the National Centre for Diplomatic Studies, Ministry of External Relations of Sudan	Signed: 2000
11	Agreement between PTI and Sudan News Agency (SUNA) for mutual professional co-operation	Signed: 2000
12	MOU between the Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority and the Airport Authority of India	Signed: 2002
13	Agreement on Cooperation in the field of Science and Technology Signed	Signed: 2002
14	Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA)	Signed: 2003
15	MoU on cooperation in Communications and Information Technology	Signed: 2003
16	Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA)	Signed: 2003
17	News Provider Agreement between Sudan News Agency (SUNA) and IANS (India Abroad News Service)	Signed: 2004
18	MoU between EXIM bank and Industry Development Bank of Sudan for project investment in Sudan	Signed: 2005
19	MoU on Cooperation in Agricultural Research and Education	Signed: 2006
20	MoU on Cooperation in the field of Agriculture and Allied Sectors	Signed: 2006
21	MoU between Antrix Corporation of India (division of ISRO) and Mierag Space Technologies Company (Ministry of Science and Technology of Sudan) in remote sensing cooperation	Signed: 2005
22	MOU between the Ministry of Petroleum &Natural Gas and the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Sudan for Cooperation in oil and Gas Sector	Signed: 2009
23	Agreement in the field of Biomass cook stoves initiatives between the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Science and Technology of Sudan.	Signed:  2010
24	Agreement on Capitalization of Interests on LoCs extended by the GOI to Sudan in the past and an Agreement between EXIM Bank and Sudan for release of second tranche of LoC for Mashkour Sugar Company	Signed: 2013
25	MoU on Defense Cooperation	Signed: 2015
26	MoU on Establishment of ICCR Hindi Language Chair at Alzaeim Al Azhari University Khartoum	Signed: 2016
27	Framework Agreement on the establishment of the International Solar Alliance (ISA)	Signed: 2016 Ratified: 2018
29	Second Amendatory Dollar Credit Line Agreement between Sudan and EXIM Bank regarding rescheduling of the principle instalments of the credit.	Signed: 2017
30	MOU between Telecommunications Consultants India Limited (TCIL) and Sudan for participation in e-Vidya Bharati (Tele-education) and e-Aarogya Bharati (tele-medicine) (E-VBAB) Network	Signed: 2019
31	MOU on cooperation between Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and Sudanese Standards & Metrology Organisation (SSMO).	Signed: 2021
32	Letter of Intent (LoI) on cooperation between Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) and Telecommunication and Post Regulatory Authority (TPRA),	Signed: 2021.

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