India Sudan realtions
The relations between India and Sudan have been warm and cordial since the ancient times. There were contacts between the Nilotic and Indus Valley civilizations according to archaeological evidences. The ancient trade included silk, leather, gold, silver ornaments.
In 1900, Indian experts developed the forestry sector. In 1935, Mahatma Gandhiji stopped over Port Sudan on his way to England. In 1938, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru stopped at Port Sudan on his way to England. The leader met the Indian community living in Sudan. In 1941, British Indian troops fought alongside Sudanese to win the battle of Keren.
In 1953, the first Sudanese parliamentary elections were held by the Indian chief election commissioner Shri Sukumar Sen. In 1954, India budgeted the Sudanization committee. In 1958, India offered 6 acre land for nominal price in New Delhi for the construction of the Sudan Embassy.
In 1993 India voted against the UN resolutions on critical Sudan. India also voted against the resolution to expel Sudan out of IMF in 1994. However, Sudan was expelled in 1995 from the IMF.
According to the statistics of the central bank of Sudan, India is the second largest exporter to Sudan after China as of June 2018. India exports 776 million USD (2017 – 18) worth goods to Sudan. It includes pharmaceuticals, textiles, machinery and equipment. India imports 358 million USD (2017 – 18) worth goods from Sudan. It includes gum, cotton, sesame seeds, ground nuts, etc.
India declared the DFTP – Duty Free Tariff Preference Scheme for least developed countries and Sudan is a part of it. ONGC has invested more than 2.3 billion USD in Sudan.
India offered 27 slots under the ICCR program and 200 slots under the ITEC program to sudanese citizens. In 1978, India donated tents, medicines for flood victims and to control Leishmaniasis (Kala – Azar). In 1985 India donated 22,560 tonnes of wheat and another 6,000 tonnes in 1987. In 1996, India provided a grant of 50,000 USD to help the flood victims. India also donated 100,000 USD for 1993 flood victims.
India has so far offered 115 million USD worth lines of credit as of 2015.
There are around 3,500 Indians living in Sudan.
