▁Khartoum 2019 OnePress
The representative of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, Bahgat Abul-Nasr, stressed that Sudan has strategic elements that qualify it to become a regional center for transport, trade and connectivity between Arab and African countries, calling for the development of modern infrastructure and the adoption of smart transport solutions to achieve sustainable development.
This came during her participation in the work of the Sudanese-Arab Forum for Smart Transport, which was hosted by the Salam Rotana Hotel in Khartoum, under the auspices of the Ministry of Transport and in cooperation with the Arab Transport Authority, and with the participation of officials and experts from a number of Arab countries.
She explained that the transport sector is one of the main drivers of economic and social development, as it plays a role in facilitating the movement of people and goods, stimulating trade, linking production areas to markets, as well as creating jobs and improving access to basic services, warning that relying on traditional transport systems limits development opportunities.
The geographical location of Sudan, which connects the Arab world to Africa and overlooks the Red Sea, in addition to its road networks, railways, river transport, ports and airports, gives it great competitive advantages in the fields of agriculture, mining, trade and logistics.
Leveraging these assets will require a shift to modern, technology-based transport systems, with financing mechanisms that combine government resources with private investment and foster public-private partnerships.
Aboul Nasr stressed that Sudanese and Arab youth are pivotal in devising local solutions that fit the needs of cities and communities, stressing the importance of benefiting from successful Arab experiences in the field of smart transport, taking into account the economic and geographical specificity of each country. She expressed confidence that the forum will contribute to the formulation of a common vision to promote a safe, smart and sustainable transport system in Sudan and the Arab region.