The ninth round of Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) between India and Sudan was held in Port Sudan on May 4, with both sides reviewing the full spectrum of bilateral ties and exploring ways to further strengthen cooperation.
The Indian delegation was led by Dr. M. Suresh Kumar, Joint Secretary (WANA), Ministry of External Affairs, while the Sudanese side was headed by Ambassador Maowia Osman Khalid Mohammed, Undersecretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the talks covered a wide range of sectors, including political engagement, trade and economic cooperation, capacity building, health, education, energy, mining, agriculture, SMEs, digital public infrastructure and people-to-people ties.
The Sudanese side reiterated its condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam last year, and both countries resolved to continue joint efforts to combat terrorism in all its forms.
The two sides also exchanged views on regional developments of mutual interest. Sudan appreciated India’s capacity-building initiatives and human resource development efforts through programmes such as ITEC and ICCR scholarships. Both sides agreed to further strengthen cooperation in this area, in line with the spirit of South-South cooperation.
During the visit, the Indian delegation called on Dr. Heitham Mohammed Ibrahim, Minister of Health of Sudan, who appreciated India’s humanitarian assistance and ongoing cooperation in the healthcare sector, including the recently organised prosthetic limb camp. The delegation also met Mustafa Md Noor, Governor of Red Sea state.
India and Sudan agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations at a mutually convenient date in New Delhi.
