The signing of a $4 billion partnership deal with Qatar last week to build and manage the Red Sea port of Suakin puts the country‘s strategic location under spot and could be considered the first serious attempt to tap this resource that has been neglected for quite long time.

The Sudanese-Qatari joint venture that will take three years to materialize is envisioning spending $500 million in the first phase and then expand eventually so as to enable the new port handle the expected surge in volume of trade.