Khartoum-A Sudanese delegation intends to visit Geneva on this weekend aiming to accelerate the joining of its country to the World Trade Organization, which was delayed for 22 years due to economic and political reasons.

The delegation sees that the membership of the WTO will ensure an economic openness to its country, and will prevent it from commercial ban or from any economic sanctions, such as those imposed by USA on the Sudanese government. This visit is expected to set a roadmap to resume the negotiations on the organization’s membership.

Dr. Yassin Issa Mohamed, secretary general of Sudan’s Secretariat for the Membership at WTO told Asharq Al-Awsat that the delegation will be headed by Dr. Kamal Hussein Ali, minister of international cooperation, who will also deliver the country’s speech on the negotiations. The speech will stress on Sudan’s recognition of the WTO’s role in developing and promoting the international trade.

Mohamed noted that the memorandum of Sudanese trade system, considered as the main document of the membership application will be completed by the end of this year, and that it is currently being reviewed with the concerned governmental entities to reach its final format.

Kamal Hussein Ali, president of the delegation said his country is working on finishing the joining procedure to the WTO. He also said that his ministry, represented by a higher committee that includes all economic sectors, has directed to solve the problems which face the Sudanese producers, and to treat the reasons behind the incapability of some sectors to compete in case they joined the organization.

Ali concluded that the next stage will provide the needed resources and opportunities to increase the agricultural, industrial, and services productivity in Sudan aiming to respond to the WTO’s requirement.