India–Sudan relations
India |
Sudan |
---|---|
Diplomatic mission | |
Embassy of India, Khartoum | Embassy of Sudan, New Delhi |
India–Sudan relations (
History
Relations between India and Sudan date back to ancient times. Evidence indicated that there were contacts and possibly trade between
Two steel suspension rail bridges in Khartoum and Atbara were imported from India in the 1900s. These bridges are still in use today. Since 1900, Indian experts have been involved in the development of Sudan's forestry sector.[2] Mahatma Gandhi visited the Port Sudan in 1935, on his way to England, and met with the members of the Indian diaspora in Sudan. Jawaharlal Nehru also stopped over in Port Sudan in 1938 on his way to the United Kingdom. Nehru visited the Chhotalal Samji Virani. The Graduates General Congress of Sudan, established in 1938, was greatly inspired by the Indian National Congress. The British Indian Army and Sudanese soldiers fought together in Eritrea in 1941. They secured victory in the decisive Battle of Keren, for which the Bengal Sappers were awarded the Victoria Cross for clearing mines in Metemma.[1]
India's Chief Election Commissioner Sukumar Sen oversaw the first Sudanese parliamentary elections in 1953. The Sudanese Election Commission, established in 1957, drew inspiration from the Indian election laws and practices. India provided financial support to the Sudanization Committee established in February 1954, which was tasked with replacing British staff in the Sudanese government, post-independence. India opened its embassy in Khartoum in March 1955. Sudan's interim Prime Minister, Ismail al-Azhari, accompanied by several Ministers, visited New Delhi in April 1955 on their way to the Bandung Conference in Indonesia. At Bandung, the country did not have a flag to represent it. Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, who was also present at the Conference, wrote "Sudan" on his handkerchief and this was used to represent Sudan at Bandung.[1]
The Sudan Block at India's
India remained neutral during the First Sudanese Civil War (1962–72) and the Second Sudanese Civil War (1983–2005).[4] India voted against United Nations resolutions that criticised Sudan in 1993 and 1994. India also opposed attempts to force Sudan to withdraw from the International Monetary Fund in 1994.
In 2003, India's public-sector Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) acquired a 25 percent share in Sudan's Greater Nile Petroleum Operating Company at a cost of US$650 million.[5] The overseas investment arm of ONGC bought out Canada's Talisman Energy, which left Sudan as a result of criticism from human-rights groups and pressure from the government of Canada.[5] As of 2011, Indian investment in the oil sector was about US$1 billion and expected to rise.[5] This engagement also led to economic cooperation in other fields.[5] The Export–Import Bank of India extended a US$50 million line of credit to Sudan in 2004.[5] ONGC signed a contract in 2004 to build a 745-kilometer pipeline to carry petroleum derivatives from the Khartoum refinery to a new port on the Red Sea.[5] As of 2011, India was scheduled to build part of a new railroad to Port Sudan.[5] It was also in discussion with Sudan on training for the army, navy, and air force and on collaboration in the media and entertainment sector.[5] India provided about 2,700 military personnel to UNMIS as of early 2011.[5]
India supported Sudan during the Heglig Crisis in 2012.[1]
State visits
Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru visited Sudan in July 1957. Vice-President
Economic relations
India is the second-largest exporter to Sudan, after China.[6] Bilateral trade between the two countries totalled US$1.3 billion in 2013–14.[1]
Indian foreign aid
India donated tents and medicines to flood victims in
India pledged US$10 million towards infrastructure, capacity building, social sector projects such as the construction of hospitals and educational institutions in Sudan at the April 2005 Oslo Donors Conference.[4] The Indian Ministry of Non-conventional Energy Sources (now known as the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy) provided funding for a solar electrification system in Khadarab village in April 2006. The system was set up by Central Electronics Limited. Similar systems have since been set up in other Sudanese villages with Indian funding.[1] Between 1980 and 2014, India has extended about US$737.07 million in lines of credit.[1]
State-owned
In February 2014, Sudan requested India to help develop its agricultural and renewable energy sectors. India provided Sudan with $350 million for the construction of a 500 MW power plant in
Citizens of Sudan are eligible for scholarships under the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations. Sudanese diplomats routinely attend the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD), organized by the Ministry of External Affairs in New Delhi.[1][2]
Indians in Sudan
Gujarati trader Luvchand Amarchand Shah is believed to be the first Indian to settle in Sudan. Shah imported goods from India and traveled to Sudan via
Sudanese in India
As of 2013, an estimated 3000 Sudanese students study in universities in India, mainly in the cities of Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore. An estimated 30,000 Sudanese people have graduated from universities in India as of 2013.[2]
See also
- Embassy of India, Khartoum
- India–South Sudan relations
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "India - Sudan Relations" (PDF). Ministry of External Affairs. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ a b c d e f "Political relations". Embassy of India, Khartoum. Retrieved 13 December 2016.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Consulate General of India in Juba, South Sudan upgraded to Embassy level". Ministry of External Affairs. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ a b "India-South Sudan Relations". Embassy of India, Juba. Archived from the original on 8 November 2016. Retrieved 13 December 2016.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-8444-0750-0. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain. Though published in 2015, this work covers events in the whole of Sudan (including present-day South Sudan) until the 2011 secession of South Sudan.)
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: CS1 maint: postscript (link - ^ a b "India-Sudan Relations: Indian FM sees Sudan trade near $1 billion". The Express Tribune. 4 February 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2016.