Sudan and Qatar Agree to Activate Joint Committee to Enhance Cooperation in Training, Recovery and Reconstruction
Geneva / The Citizen
On the sidelines of the 114th Session of the International Labour Conference in Geneva, Sudan’s Minister of Human Resources and Social Welfare, Moatasim Ahmed Saleh, met today with Qatar’s Minister of Labour, Dr. Ali bin Samikh Al Marri.
The meeting was attended by Ambassador Hassan Hamed Hassan, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Sudan to the United Nations and International Organizations in Geneva, along with members of the Sudanese Permanent Mission and officials from both sides.
The Sudanese Minister expressed his country’s appreciation for Qatar’s continued support for the Sudanese people, commending the humanitarian and development role played by Qatari institutions, particularly Qatar Charity, over the years and during the current challenges facing Sudan.
He outlined Sudan’s priorities for the recovery and reconstruction phase, emphasizing the need for effective partnerships in vocational training, skills development, trainer qualification, curriculum modernization, institutional transformation, civil service reform, and strengthening national institutions.
The discussions also addressed Sudan’s needs in rehabilitating vocational training centers, health facilities affiliated with the National Health Insurance Fund, supporting basic services in displacement camps, and promoting entrepreneurship and small business programs targeting youth.
In a significant step toward strengthening institutional cooperation, both sides agreed to activate the joint committee stipulated in the cooperation agreement between the labour ministries of Sudan and Qatar. Focal points were designated to follow up on implementation, with the Qatari side appointing the Director of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Labour, while the Sudanese side designated the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Welfare.
For his part, the Qatari Minister of Labour reaffirmed his country’s commitment to enhancing cooperation with Sudan and directed the immediate activation of the joint committee. He also called for the preparation of priority projects supported by technical studies and cost estimates to facilitate consideration of potential support and implementation mechanisms.
Dr. Al Marri further invited the Sudanese Minister to visit Doha in the coming period to follow up on the proposed projects and strengthen avenues of bilateral cooperation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, both sides underscored the importance of building on the strong fraternal relations between Sudan and Qatar and translating agreed areas of cooperation into practical programs and projects that support Sudan’s recovery, reconstruction efforts, and human resource development.