Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries, Professor Ahmed Al-Tijani Al-Mansouri, held an expanded meeting on Sunday at the ministry’s premises in Khartoum with the Ministerial Strategic Initiative and Innovation Team, in the presence of the Ministry’s Undersecretary, Dr. Ammar Al-Sheikh Idris, and a number of relevant department directors. The Minister explained that the formation of the team aims to assist the ministry’s leadership in addressing the key challenges facing the sector and completing all urgent requirements needed to begin exporting Sudanese meat to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia before September 1, 2026, with plans for later expansion to other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. He added that the ministry is currently working to mobilise and arrange financing worth US$500 million for the first phase of the Animal Production City project, to be completed before December 31, 2026. He noted that the project will represent a qualitative transformation in production, manufacturing, and job creation. The Minister revealed that the ministry intends to hold a joint meeting in the coming days involving all relevant stakeholders to develop final solutions to obstacles facing meat exports, unify efforts between the public and private sectors, accelerate exports, and open new markets. Al-Mansouri announced plans to organise an external tour aimed at attracting Sudanese expatriates’ savings for investment in the animal resources and fisheries sector, stressing that the sector represents a genuine pathway to addressing economic challenges, achieving food security, and increasing the country’s foreign currency revenues. He pointed out that he would conduct direct consultations with state walis to establish modern markets for producers based on advanced systems that reduce intermediaries and lower the prices of animal products for consumers. He also highlighted the growing global demand for Sudanese red meat due to its added value and strong competitive advantage. At the conclusion of the meeting, the Minister stressed the need to exert maximum efforts and utilise all available ministry resources to achieve the sector’s strategic objectives, support producers, and develop value chains to ensure that Sudanese products reach global markets with high quality.BH/BH