Al-Basham Engineer Saif Al-Din Muqallid, Secretary General of the Nile State Chamber of Commerce, in an interview 🎙️ Prepared and interviewed by / Raja Mustafa Al-Kamel
*Commercial and industrial activity faced major challenges and obstacles after the April War, which directly affected production, exports and imports, capital and businessmen, some of whom preferred to stay and start over in complex economic conditions. The war was the reverse migration of companies and factories that began their commercial activity in the Nile State. This is one of the capacities, potential and promise of the state for a major commercial and industrial renaissance. the people of Atbara who chose to be loyal, survive and remain faithful to their investments and activities. He plays a major role in supporting and allocating local programs and in assisting the executive branch of the state government through his leadership of the Chamber of Commerce and its activation. his administrative role. And the community that we get to know through dialogue with him in his capacity as Secretary General of the Nile State Chamber of Commerce and also a member of it:*
*Q1/The identity card of engineer Saif al-Din Muqallid?*
Muhammad Saif Al-Din Mustafa
Member of the Nile State Chamber of Commerce and Secretary General of the Atbara Health Services Organization, a petroleum engineer, I worked in a refinery in Sudan, then in the United Arab Emirates, and I returned to the country to pay the tax of the homeland and contribute to its advancement and development with all the strength and experience that I possess to serve this country and its people.
*Q2/ When was the River Nile State Chamber of Commerce established?*
The Chamber of Commerce was established as an institution throughout Sudan in the late sixties and early seventies of the last century.
*Q3/What is the purpose of the Chamber of Commerce?*
Preserve the rights of traders and promote the social responsibility to which they can contribute for the development and revival of society
*Q4/What are the missions and activities of the Chamber?*
The Chamber has multiple tasks through which membership in the Chamber of Commerce is issued, and it certainly has advantages and benefits. As a Chamber, we sometimes intervene in tax assessments and zakat assessments as a market observer.
*Q5/ What is the administrative structure of the Chamber of Commerce?* The Chamber consists of several segments within the Atbara commercial markets, such as wholesale and retail traders, a segment of furniture and electrical appliance merchants and other commercial sectors within the market, which consists of about sixteen segments, including the Chamber of Commerce office, consisting of a chairman, a deputy and a deputy, Thani, secretary general, treasurer, secretary for external relations, secretary for information, and the rest represent the chamber as members.
*Q6/ What are the entities directly related to the work of the Chamber?* Thank God, the Chamber was approved as a steering committee in light of the freezing of the activity of all bodies and unions by decision of the Sovereignty Council. The Chamber has provided great assistance to the commercial sector and the administration of the state government, in addition to its great role towards society in light of the war conditions.
*Q7/ Tell us about the role that the Chamber plays in Atbara, especially in war circumstances?*
The Chamber has contributed greatly to the support staff of the armed forces and provided support to expatriates in the accommodation centers, as well as during the flood and rain period. The Chamber has sent food supplies, namely Maein, Adad and the right forearm, to Atbara. locality through its role of market control.
*Q8/ Your expectations for the Sudanese economy after the April war?* If we learn from the past, the economy will have a good start, and I expect that what comes after the April war will not be the same as before, based on general data and indicators.
*Q9/ How is Sudan reviving economically?* Facilities must be established and government procedures simplified for investors by unifying the window and the House has established a forum to develop this aspect and we have programs and projects in the same direction and of course the basis of the revival is that the general concern is to build the nation away from ego and teamwork. It is he who will move our country forward.
*Q10/ What role does the Chamber play in youth and in developing their capacities?* The Chamber cooperates with the trainer Dr. Othman Mirghani, a trainer with extensive experience in youth rehabilitation and a mental health specialist, we have started the training program since the beginning of the year for many entities, including the community police, state shelters and prisons. prepare a course for police officers, as well as a course for the traffic police and the tax administration, all of which are specialized courses that serve a purpose and heart to the work of the targeted parties.
*Q11/Nile State has land, resources and water sources. How can we benefit from them?*
Investment procedures should be facilitated to encourage investors to invest in agriculture and stabilize investors. Certainly, each region of the state has advantages that can create diversification of investments.
*Q12/ In your opinion, what is the most important aspect that the state government should focus on to move this project forward?*
Agriculture is the basis of production, and we only have land and water sources that require an attractive investment environment, in addition to special attention to training.
*Q13/ To what extent has the Chamber of Commerce benefited from delegations of businessmen and capital to the State?*
The Chamber met with the Federal Minister of Commerce and Supply during his visit to the state, and we discussed some issues including the fact that the Chamber has become an authorized body that facilitates the work of investors coming to the state, and the various investments are certainly contributing to the revival of the state in all spheres.
*Q14/ Why is the Sudanese product exported without added value?*
The manufacturing industry that needs infrastructure must ensure that it provides a suitable environment for the investor, including warehouses, cold rooms and other requirements for a healthy industrial environment.
*Q15/ How to achieve self-sufficiency and reduce the quantity of imported goods, especially consumer goods?*
By paying attention to young people, refining their capacities in all areas of production, especially agricultural, and providing appropriate infrastructure to attract more investments and capital from inside and outside Sudan to the state, and providing an encouraging and attractive environment.
*Q16/ Tell us about the nature of the Chamber of Commerce's partnership with the executive branch of the state government?*
The Chamber's partnership involves almost everyone, starting with the local police, community police, traffic police, Zakat and the tax office, as well as other components of the executive branch of the state government. We have a common interest with each party, and we are the link between them and the traders and investors in what serves the public good.
*Q17 What is the Chamber's vision and strategic plan for commercial and industrial activity in the state?*
The Chamber of Commerce seeks to expand its membership, which helps to expand its capabilities, which enables it to play its role more comprehensively towards society. This is achieved by controlling the market and in cooperation with the locality, so that the. The Chamber of Commerce is the authorized body to issue the trade license, and the exercise of the trade profession within the market must be regulated. We would like to sit down with the executive director of the Atbara locality to resolve this issue.
*Q18/A message and a last word, and to whom do you address it?*
The country needs everyone, and it needs us to work sincerely, and we must avoid selfishness and work so that Sudan becomes a number and a name called Lebanon, and this is achieved through the cooperation and solidarity of its people for its elevation and progress.
