Aswan: Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Ambassador Mohy-Eddin Salim, on Sunday, took part in the high-level session held as part of the fifth edition of the Aswan Forum for Sustainable Peace and Development, entitled: ‘Connecting Continents and Building the Future through the Red Sea: Opportunities for Arab-African Economic Integration.’
According to Sudan News Agency, the session included the participation of Egyptian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Immigration, and Affairs of Egyptians Abroad Badr Abdelatty, Somalia’s Foreign Minister Abdi Salim Ali, and Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji. Also in attendance were Ms. Annette Weber, the EU Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa, and Mr. Gary Milante, representative of the World Bank.
In his address to the forum, Ambassador Salim reviewed the major economic prospects Sudan enjoys in sectors of transport, logistics, and ports, in addition to tourism projects and opportunities on the Red Sea coast. He also highlighted Sudan’s efforts in the recovery of the transport and tourism sectors in preparation for reconstruction.
The Foreign Minister explained that the security and stability of the Red Sea Region are top priorities for the Government of Sudan. He praised the Egyptian initiative ‘Suez and the Red Sea for Economic and Maritime Development (STREAM)’ for its importance in promoting sustainable development in the region. The initiative focuses on the blue economy, infrastructure and port development, environmental protection, and deepening economic integration. Ambassador Salim affirmed the need for collective work and continuous coordination among all littoral states to enhance security and maximize the benefits of available opportunities.
The session addressed topics related to boosting economic activity, contributions of the Red Sea region to the international agenda and global trade, and environmental, climate, and energy issues connected to the session’s theme.