State-run Russian company Gazprombank (GPB) has dispatched one of its investment specialists to Sudan's capital Khartoum to meet with top officials including the Sudanese finance minister, according to a report by the government-run Sudan News Agency (SUNA).

“The Russian GPB group expressed desire to increase its investments in Sudan by utilizing the Sudan strategic position and tremendous natural resources,” reported the Sudanese state news agency.

The Russian company official, identified by SUNA as “Head of Mineral Development Section at GPB group, Alexander Smirnov,” was received by the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Badr-Eddin Mahmoud at his office on Wednesday.

SUNA quoted the minister as “describing the GPB group as Sudan's new strategic partner.”

Smirnov's LinkedIn profile identifies him as the Deputy Head of Mining Business Development and Management at GPB Global Resources / Gazprombank. He previously served as a specialist in business development at Gazprom EP International.

SUNA quoted Smirnov as saying that the Gazprom group desires to increase its investments in areas of petroleum, gas, minerals, agriculture and services in Sudan.

Gazprombank is owned by Gazprom, Russia's state-run oil company. It was founded by Gazprom to provide banking services for gas industry enterprises, according to the bank's website.

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