Sudan

Sudan, whose independence dates back to 1956, is a state located in Northeastern Africa. The country borders to the north with Egypt and Libya, to the west with Chad, to the southwest with the Central African Republic, to the south with South Sudan, to the southeast with Ethiopia and to the east with Eritrea and the Red Sea. The population is about 48 million and the official languages are Arabic and English.

Once the largest country in Africa, after 2011 Sudan had to give up a big portion of its territory to the newly formed state of South Sudan. The secession of South Sudan deprived the country of three-quarters of its oil production, and the economy is experiencing difficulties.

Although trade volumes between Italy and Sudan remain low, in the last few years, Italy has had a highly positive trade balance and ranks second among the country’s main European trade partners, after Germany. As the economy is still largely focused on farming, agriculture is the sector in which there are the strongest relations between the two countries. Following the removal of US sanctions, many Italian companies have started seeing Sudan as a potentially interesting market.

Italy also contributes to various humanitarian initiatives, especially in the eastern regions of the country.