The University of Khartoum in collaboration with UNDP and Embassy of Norway hosted today a lecture by the renowned Norwegian economist Professor Erik Reinert entitle “ An Alternative -and Historically Proven -Development Path for Sudan.”

The lecture was attended by various representatives of the diplomatic corp in Sudan, government officials, academia,  private sector representatives and representatives  of the civil society organizations in Sudan.

H.E Bard Hopland Ambassador of Norway to Sudan, Vice Chancellor to the University of Khartoum Prof. Fadwa Abdel Rahman Taha and UNDP Resident Representative Dr. Selva Ramachandran,  welcomed the collaboration between Norway, UNDP and the University of Khartoum during the transitional period and expressed their commitment to organizing similar lectures by renowned professors as part of their capacity building initiatives in Sudan.

For his part, Professor Erik Reinert r demonstrated -through extensive historical references -that for Sudan to grow out of poverty and join rich nations, requires more than just proper use of her considerable natural wealth. Sudan’s natural wealth enable the country to feed itself and have sizeable exports while using a small proportion of its working force, through use of improved agricultural technology and adding value to agricultural products before exporting them. The bulk of Sudan’s youthful labour force can engage in industrial activities that exhibit increasing returns to scale, such as solar energy and thus be able to earn high wages and have a fulfilling and dignified life. The skills that a growing industry will create would also benefit agriculture, through for example experienced mechanics helping produce and maintain agricultural machinery.

The professor by speaking about how countries with much lower levels of natural wealth than Sudan attained high incomes conveyed a badly needed hopeful message about Sudan’s development prospects. However, he insisted that realizing this potential would require Sudan to have freedom to adopt the economic policies it sees fit for its development, including notably an active industrial policy and providing subsidies to activities or sectors with major spill over contributions to the entire economy, such as transport and communication.