With Battles Raging, Port Sudan Buzzing With Office, Trade Activities

PORT SUDAN, July 8 (KUNA) -- In spite of the scorching heat, Hussein Adam, 42, is walking around the major market of port Sudan, a city and port on the Red Sea in eastern Sudan, trying to sell soft drinks.
As battles have been raging between Sudanese army and paramilitary forces in the capital Khartoum and other areas for the third month running, thousands of people have fled to Port Sudan, capital of the state of the Red Sea.
Seeking to capitalize on thriving business and trade in the city, which attracted many offices, traders and vendors, Adam, speaking to KUNA, said he had to escape to Port Said in pursuit of livelihood following mounting pillage and looting at Omdurman market, just like several other markets in the capital.
Port Sudan, which is a main port and tourist attraction in winter (between October and January), has also turned into an administrative center for the Sudanese government by hosting several ministries and roping in investors and businessmen.
In addition, foreign diplomatic missions and UN offices have moved to the Red Sea port city, thus pushing up shopping, real estate and hotel prices, particularly as the city has recently become a transit point for citizens and foreigners to run away.
Port Sudan, which has an estimated population of approximately one million, now hosts around 40,000 people, let alone some 18,000 foreigners who have recently stayed in the city for several days ahead of evacuation.
The prices of hotel and hotel apartments have lately seen a two or three-fold increase, with the rate, in some cases, amounting to roughly USD 150 per night.
The Red Sea State's division of real estate offices estimated a hike of roughly 60 percent in apartment rents, compared with the pre-war period, as a result of the flight of officials and representatives of international organizations and embassies to Port Sudan.
Rent rates are now ranging between 40,000 and 80,000 Sudanese pounds (around USD 80-120) per day, according to the real estate division.
Speaking to KUNA, Chairman of the Red Sea State's Chamber of Commerce Ali Hashem said Port Sudan has actually become a "mini capital and business district" for Sudan since so many traders and businessmen flocked in masse to the port city.
"Around 70 percent of the country's exporters and 80 percent of importers have already relocated to the city, where we have provided them with all necessary facilities involving certificates of origin and outlets," he added.
The city, which used to abound in plants 10 years back, is now able to be back to its history of manufacturing and making, Hashem hoped For his part, Executive Manager of the Sudanese Chamber of Exporters Mohammad Abdelqader, also speaking to KUNA, said the chamber has done its most to make it easy for exporters to resume their business after a one-month hiatus.
He confirmed that roughly 80 percent of major companies have relocated to Port Sudan, a thing that would certainly contribute to creating new job opportunities to the city's local residents and ensuring a thriving real estate and storing market.
The Sudanese army and paramilitary Rapid Support Forces ((RSF) have repeatedly reached a Riyadh and Washington-facilitated ceasefire, but, unfortunately, fighting has not been ceased, with both sides trading accusations for breaching ceasefires.
The Sudanese clash, which flared in Khartoum and several other cities on April 15, has so far claimed the lives of thousands of people and displaced more than 2.5 million others. (end) mam.mt

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