KHARTOUM, Feb. 18 (Xinhua) -- The fourth annual Sudan International Mining Forum and Exhibition opened on Monday in capital Khartoum with the participation of over 40 countries.
"This forum is convened under very complicated regional and international circumstances," said Sudan's Prime Minister Mutaz Musa, when addressing the forum's opening session.
The current challenges need efforts to enhance partnerships in mining field, create an appropriate atmosphere and provide the required infrastructures, he noted.
Musa further reiterated Sudan's commitment to opening the doors for people willing to invest in Sudan's mineral filed.
Sudan's Minister of Petroleum and Minerals Azhari Abdelgadir Abdullah reiterated Sudan's keenness to provide investment opportunities and double the production.
He explained that around 460 mining companies are currently operating in Sudan, saying that the traditional mining is considered the biggest sector as it employs nearly 2 million people.
The forum, convened during Feb. 18-20, is scheduled to discuss mining issues presented by Sudanese and foreign scholars.
Sudan is seeking to make gold a major source of foreign currency after losing three quarters of its oil revenues due to the separation of South Sudan in 2011.
In 2018, Sudan produced more than 110 tons of gold and it works to rank first in gold production in Africa.
