Antalya: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Mohi-Eddin Salim, participated in a high-level dialogue session during the Antalya Diplomacy Forum held under the title 'Investing in Africa's Future: Strategy, Scale, and Competitiveness.' In his remarks, the Minister said that Africa is among the world's richest regions in natural resources; however, these resources have often been a key driver of conflicts and external interventions driven by competition over them, noting that the war in Sudan is a clear example of this dynamic.
According to Sudan News Agency, the Minister stressed that the challenge is not limited to attracting investment, but extends to ensuring that local communities benefit from such investments, calling for more balanced policies that achieve development while protecting the environment. He pointed out that some resource extraction areas are suffering from environmental degradation that negatively affects local populations.
The Minister also highlighted the importance of regional integration in maximizing resource utilization through the development of shared value chains and coordination of investment policies, thereby strengthening Africa's negotiating power.
He further referred to major financing challenges facing the continent, including infrastructure and trade financing gaps estimated at hundreds of billions of dollars annually, underscoring the need to mobilize greater private capital alongside the role of regional and international financial institutions.
The Minister reviewed Sudan's investment opportunities, particularly its strategic location on the Red Sea with a coastline exceeding 800 kilometers, positioning it as a potential hub for trade and investment in Africa.
He affirmed that Sudan, despite current challenges, remains open to investment, relying on strong national will for reconstruction, which offers promising opportunities for regional and international partners.
He concluded by stressing that transforming Africa's resources from a source of conflict into a driver of development requires strengthened national sovereignty, enhanced regional cooperation, and the building of fair and sustainable partnerships that serve the interests of African peoples and turn the continent's wealth into a solid foundation for stability and development.