El-Obeid: The training workshop on sustainable gum arabic management, themed “Hand in Hand Towards Sustainable Gum Arabic Management,” commenced on Monday at the University of Kordofan. Organized by the Gum Arabic Research and Desertification Studies Institute, the event aimed to address the challenges and opportunities in managing gum arabic sustainably.
According to Sudan News Agency, Hisham Bashir Al-Obeid, representing the Secretary-General of the North Kordofan State Government Secretariat, emphasized the workshop’s significance given the economic importance of gum arabic and the damages it has sustained due to the ongoing war. He stressed the necessity of developing a scientific approach to enhance the sector for the benefit of the state and its citizens.
The Acting Director of the University of Kordofan, Professor Nasr-Eddin Jar El-Nabi Suleiman, highlighted the workshop’s role in advancing gum arabic management. He noted that the research and discussions among experts would lead to valuable insights and solutions to improve the gum arabic sector.
Dr. Hamdoun Ali Abdel-Rahman, Dean of the Gum Arabic Research and Desertification Studies Institute, stated that the institute’s primary goal is to focus on gum arabic and refine its policies. He explained that the workshop aims to achieve sustainable management objectives across economic, social, and environmental dimensions, emphasizing the need for derivative industries and support for productive communities affected by the war.
Engineer Mohamed Idris, Director of the National Forestry Corporation in North Kordofan State, pointed out the significant impact of the war on the forestry sector, particularly on high-value species, leading to depletion. He called for collaborative efforts to address these challenges.
Engineer Mohamed Babiker, representing the Gum Arabic Exporters Division, underscored the economic impact of gum arabic and noted the division’s investment of approximately 111 million pounds to support the sector. He acknowledged the production, marketing, and export issues facing the sector and expressed gratitude to the Gum Arabic Research Institute for organizing the workshop.