Sudan Croc Dispatch - Issue #13: Fintech Hard Labor

Feb/2023

February 25, 2023

Aerial photo for Neelain Mosque at Omdurman, Source: @SDN_Plus from Twitter

Hello there dear reader !

Welcome to the 13th issue of Sudan Croc Dispatch where you’ll be reading the news of travel, tourism, business, finance, technology, opportunities, and events in Sudan for February/2023.

Travel & Tourism

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What to eat in Sudan? - Article by Food Atlas

Top 10 most popular foods in Sudan - Article by Food Atlas

Sudan archaeology

A new restaurant opened in Khartoum called “Marimba”

Egyptian flags on February 25, 2019 in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. [Dan Kitwood/Getty Images]
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  • Sudan Animal Rescue zoo introduces new animals including:

    • Domestic animals (camels, donkeys, etc.) for people to feed, touch, and interact with

    • African parrots

    • Serval cat

    • Source: Sudan Animal Rescue, Feb/2023

Business

A private non-governmental volunteering efforts and initiative by the people of Atbara resulted in the installment of solar LED lights for all of the streets of Atbara

Source: Hash Sudan, Feb/4/2023

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Andariya - the bilingual digital cultural multimedia platform and cross-cultural enterprise - celebrates its 8th anniversary !

Bookify, a new startup founded to provide an online platform for selling tickets to events. The events that they sell tickets are: entertainment, sports, professional workshops, and cinematic events.

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Hash Sudan is a digital platform for Sudanese news with an audience of more than 800k in Twitter that offers paid marketing and advertising services for its Sudanese audience.

If you’re interested, you can reach out to them using these methods:

  1. Whatsapp and cell number: +249126009222

  2. Email: [email protected]

  3. Twitter: @hash_sudan

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In Russia's push into Africa, Sudan is the strategic prize

DAL Group introduces a new product: Sudanese local instant ramen noodles

Business Headlines:

  • National council for medicine in North Darfur state destroy 30 tonnes of expired pharmaceuticals and medicines worth of 40.38 USD

    • Source: Wakeep, Feb/4/2023

  • Minister of transport declares the buying of 3 new ships worth of 15 million USD

    • Source: Feb/2/2023

  • Minister of healthcare declares a national plan for health security worth of 250 million USD

    • Source: Feb/1/2023

  • Industrial chamber declares the stopping of 90% of factories around Sudan

    • Source: Feb/1/2023

  • Harvest of “tasaly” seeds began in Sennar

    • Source: Wakeep, Feb/1/2023

  • Shambat bridge (between Omdurman and Bahri) is closed partially for maintenance

    • Source: Sudan Plus, Feb/9/2023

  • 5 tonnes of expired food products were destroyed in Karari locality, Omdurman

    • Source: Sudan Plus, Feb/7/2023

  • 1999 pills of Tramadol were seized in the tunnel near to Sudan University of Science and Technology

    • Source: Sudan Plus, Feb/4/2023

  • Water supply stopped on Saturday (Feb/3) in Bahri and affected Kobar, industrial zone, Ozba, and Al-Khazzan Al-Raisi due to maintenance in the water station

    • Source: Sudan Plus, Feb/3/2023

  • Police arrested a foreign real estate gang of 8 real estate dealers with 4000 real estate documents specialized in conducting illegal real estate deals at Hattab district, Sharq Al-Neel

    • Source: Sudan Plus, Feb/1/2023

  • Ministry of education increases the salaries and bonuses for teachers

    • Source: Sudan Plus, Jan/25/2023

  • Court released the CEO of Tarco Airlines from prison

    • Source: Sudan Plus, Jan/23/2023

  • Tariq Karrar launches his campaign for 2023 of “Tariq’s Initiative” to support poor families with food in Ramadan. Tariq’s initiative falls contributes to the sustainable development goals of no poverty, and zero hunger in Sudan.You can contribute to Tariq’s initiative via:

    • Western Union: Contact Tariq to coordinate the transfer

    • Bankak mobile money app: 1271779

    • Fawry mobile money app: 51178715

    • Sudanese bank card transfer: 6392560032487213

    • Source: Tariq Karrar, Feb/2023

Finance

Sudan’s Acting Foreign Minister Ali Al-Sadiq [@YvesUitGent/Twitter]

Finance Headlines:

  • Bloom - the first Sudanese startup to be funded by the YCombinator - seizes all of its operations in Sudan permanently due to hard regulations set by the Sudanese government.

    • Source: Bloom, Jan/29/2023

  • Bank of Khartoum introduces a new service to its mobile money app “Bankak” of converting currencies from Sudanese pounds to hard currencies and from hard currencies to Sudanese pounds

    • Source: Bank of Khartoum, Feb/8/2023

  • Local fuel prices increases

    • Source: Al-Arabiya, Feb/1/2023

  • Syber Pay offers the service of recharging fuel cards “Petrola” using its mobile money app

    • Source: Syber Pay, Feb/9/2023

  • Syber Pay offers the service of recharging digital wallets for passengers who are using Lemon mobile taxi app

    • Source: Syber Pay, Jan/29/2023

  • The lowest limit for pensions is increased to 37,000 SDG (63.23 USD)

    • Source: Al-Intibaha, Feb/4/2023

  •  United Capital Bank partners with MIG money exchange centers to provide the service of recharging of recharging the United Capital Bank VISA cards

    • Source: United Capital Bank, Feb/9/2023

  • MIG money exchange - which is a representative and an agent for Western Union in Sudan - opens new branches in Khartoum state in:

    • Al-Anfal Mall, imtidad Nasser

    • Top Gallery

    • Source: MIG Exchange, Feb/10/2023

  • European envoy in Khartoum states that foreign economic collaboration programs reinstatement is tied to the restoration of civilian government in Sudan

    • Source: Wakeep, Feb/8/2023

  • Registration fees for students at Sudan University for science and technology decreased by 40%

    • Source: Sudan Plus, Feb/9/2023

Technology

Image used for illustrative purpose. Mubadala satellite, Yahsat.

Dukkani - a groceries orders and delivery mobile app - introduces Apple Pay as a new payment method for its customers.

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You can Subscribe to Anghami music, podcast, and audio streaming mobile application using either Sudani or Zain Sudan

Technology Headlines:

  • The Facebook page of “Al-Merrikh” Soccer club got hacked

    • Source: Sudan Plus, Feb/1/2023

Past Events

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Sudan Business Forum organized an event on the 18th of Feb/2023

Sudan Business Forum is committed to build a community for you to network, grow your career, while being a platform to exchange ideas and find support.

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Graphic promoting a screening at the American Center Khartoum of an episode of the documentary series "Emancipation Road" on the Civil Rights Era, followed by a moderated discussion on Wednesday, February 15 from 2-4pm. Limited spots available, so register at the link before seats fill up!

Future Events

Opportunities

Tenders, Bids, and RFPs

Longitudinal Study and Data Analysis (Solutions in Darfur Region) Norwegian Refugee Council Type: RFQ Opening Date: 23 Feb 2023 Deadline: 06 March 2023

For the Provision of Materials and Construction Works in Empty Plot in Zalingei, Central Darfur UNHCR Type: RFP Opening Date: 08 Feb 2023 Deadline: 07 March 2023

Installation of Handwashing Stations in Kernik, Habila and Forobaranga localities in West Darfur ADRA Type: ITB Opening Date: 01 Feb 2023 Deadline: 02 March 2023

RFQ for Tractors and Implements AAGVCSS PROJECT Type: RFQ Opening Date: 01 Feb 2023 Deadline: 01 March 2023

FOR THE SUPPLY, DELIVERY AND INSTALLATION OF FURNITURE TO UNHCR GUEST HOUSE IN NYALA, SOUTH DARFUR UNHCR Type: ITB Opening Date: 09 Feb 2023 Deadline: 02 March 2023

Curriculum books Norwegian Refugee Council Type: RFQ Opening Date: 23 Feb 2023 Deadline: 07 March 2023

Construction of three permanent school classrooms at two localities (Guli and Umrimta Plan International Type: ITB Opening Date: 23 Feb 2023 Deadline: 09 March 2023

PROVISION OF OFFICE MAINTENANCE UNHCR REPRESENTATION OFFICE IN KHARTOUM UNHCR Type: RFQ Opening Date: 23 Feb 2023 Deadline: 02 March 2023

Provision of Non-Food Item Kits (NFIs) Danish Refugee Council Type: ITB Opening Date: 22 Feb 2023 Deadline: 15 March 2023

Grants

Jobs

Workshops, Courses, Trainings, & Programs

Scholarships

Other Opportunities

Conclusion

To sum up, February was a sad month because it had a very devastating headline, which was the exit of Bloom - the first Sudanese startup to be funded by the Y-Combinator - from Sudan and stopping of all of its operations inside Sudan due to stubborn governmental regulations. On the other hand, the Bank of Khartoum declares the launch of a new service of converting Sudanese pounds to foreign currencies and vice versa. But will this new service from the Bank of Khartoum in its mobile app be available to all users of this mobile application inside and outside Sudan? Or will it only be exclusive for those who have opened a bank account in the Bank of Khartoum inside Sudan? And will it be reliable or not?

Bloom offered many high hopes for the Sudanese citizens inside and outside Sudan as it showed very huge potential of providing efficient, easy, flexible, and reliable mobile money services with the ability to issue a virtual bank card and a virtual VISA card used internationally.

On other sides, Syber Pay started offering the service of recharging the digital wallet for passengers of Lemon mobile taxi app and also the recharging of Petrola fueling card. There were many cool business and cultural events both online and in-person. Andariya completed its 8th milestone. Tariq Karrar started his philanthropic initiative for 2023. Sudan Animal Rescue Zoo introduce new animals both wild animals and domestic ones. Badr airlines launched its first direct flights between Khartoum and London. The Emirati company - YahClick - signed an agreement with Canar to support Sudan's digital transformation strategy.

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