Sudan’s Minister of Trade Osman Omer Al-Sharif says that it will grant special access at Port Sudan to the Republic of South Sudan as well as other privileges. His comments come ahead of key talks next week in Juba.

In an interview with Radio Tamazuj on Wednesday, the minister explained that a joint trade agreement with South Sudan will include free trade, transit, utilization of ports, simplification of imports and exports, and cooperation in transportation by land as well as international cooperation on customs.

The government official revealed that a special site has already been identified for South Sudan in Port Sudan.

A delegation representing the Sudanese Ministry of Trade is scheduled to visit South Sudan next week and discuss arrangements outlined in the countries' memorandum of understanding before cross-border commerce is resumed.

A source disclosed that the agreement, which covers trade of 172 essential commodities “needed by Sudan and South Sudan”, is likely to be signed.

The trade minister confirmed that his delegation will arrive in South Sudan on 22 October “to thoroughly discuss trade issues.”

“The Sudanese government also intends to identify other sites for South Sudan at the Kosti and Jebelain ports. We have already sent a memorandum of understanding on joint trade to the South Sudanese finance and commerce ministry for ratification,” Al-Sharif said.

He confirmed that technical committees from Sudan will be dispatched to the border states in order to inspect the final arrangements for the opening of crossing points.

In another development, the president of Sudan’s Hilal Sports Club, Al Amin Al Birer, confirmed his intention to “enhance sports relations” with the South.

He disclosed that a sports delegation will visit Juba in the end of October following an invitation extended by the South Sudan Football Federation.

Al Birer said the Hilal team is scheduled to play a friendly match with a Southern Sudanese counterpart later this month.

The visit of Sudan’s Hilal Sports Club to the south will be the first of its kind since the independence of South Sudan in 2011.

File photo: Sudanese Ministry of Trade Osman Omer Al-Sharif