India and Sudan have reviewed their bilateral relationship during the ninth round of Foreign Office Consultations in Port Sudan, covering cooperation across sectors ranging from trade and healthcare to digital infrastructure and security…reports Africa Daily Newsdesk
India and Sudan held the ninth round of Foreign Office Consultations in Port Sudan, during which both countries reviewed the full spectrum of bilateral ties and discussed ways to strengthen cooperation across the political, economic, and security sectors.
The talks were co-chaired by Joint Secretary for West Asia and North Africa M Suresh Kumar and Sudanese Foreign Ministry Undersecretary Maowia Osman Khalid Mohammed, according to a statement issued by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.
The consultations covered a broad range of areas, including political engagement, trade, investment, healthcare, education, energy, mining, agriculture, capacity building, digital public infrastructure, small and medium enterprises, and people-to-people exchanges.
Both sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments of mutual interest and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening South-South cooperation.
A key aspect of the discussions focused on counter-terrorism cooperation. Sudan reiterated its condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir last year, while both countries reaffirmed their resolve to combat terrorism and extremism in all forms.
“They reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations, including political, economic, trade, capacity building, health, education, energy, mining, agriculture, SMEs, digital public infrastructure and people-to-people ties and discussed ways to strengthen the partnership further,” the MEA statement said.
“Sudan side reiterated their condemnation of the dastardly terrorist attack in Pahalgam last year and both sides resolved to fight the scourge of terrorism,” it added.
The consultations took place amid continued engagement between India and African nations through diplomatic, developmental and capacity-building initiatives. India has maintained longstanding ties with Sudan across sectors such as education, healthcare and technical cooperation.
During the visit, the Indian delegation also met Sudan’s Minister of Health, Heitham Mohammed Ibrahim, who acknowledged India’s humanitarian assistance and ongoing cooperation in the healthcare sector. The discussions included recent initiatives such as a prosthetic limb camp organised in Sudan with Indian support.
The Indian delegation also called on the Governor of Red Sea State, Mustafa Md Noor, where discussions focused on sub-national cooperation and development initiatives.
Both countries reviewed progress made since the previous round of consultations and expressed satisfaction over the continued expansion of bilateral engagement. The discussions reflected both governments’ efforts to sustain diplomatic dialogue despite regional challenges and the economic pressures facing Sudan.
India also highlighted its support through capacity-building programmes under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation initiative and scholarships offered through the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Sudan acknowledged the role of these programmes in contributing to human resource development and skills training.
India has traditionally used ITEC programmes and ICCR scholarships as part of its broader development partnership with countries across Africa, offering training opportunities and educational exchanges in various fields.
The latest consultations concluded with both sides agreeing to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi at a mutually convenient date.
The decision signals continued momentum in diplomatic engagement between the two countries as they seek to expand cooperation across strategic and developmental sectors while maintaining dialogue on regional and international issues.
