Archaeological excavation of sites on the
Nile above Aswan has confirmed human habitation in the river valley
during the Paleolithic period that spanned more than 60,000 years of
Sudanese history. By the eighth millennium B.C., people of a
Neolithic culture had settled into a sedentary way of life there in
fortified mud-brick villages, where they supplemented hunting and
fishing on the Nile with grain gathering and cattle herding. Contact
with Egypt probably occurred at a formative stage in the culture's
development because of the steady movement of population along the
Nile River. Skeletal remains suggest a blending of Negroid and
Mediterranean populations during the Neolithic period (eighth to
third millennia B.C.) that has remained relatively stable until the
present, despite gradual infiltration by other elements.
The Sudan oil industry is a
key sector in the economy of the country. In particular the
upstream oil industry is a major source of foreign exchange. The
country has an oil refinery at Port Sudan. Private investment in
the oil sector will hopefully reduce import costs and increase
foreign exchange for development financing. The mining industry in
Sudan is still underdeveloped although the country is known to be
rich in precious minerals, copper, zinc and iron.
The agricultural sector employs the majority of the work force
and produce is processed by the manufacturing industry. Poor
performance has been due to declining annual rainfall. Sudan has
freshwater and marine-fishing potential that is not fully
exploited. In the south natural forest cover still exists despite
a rapid decrease in other parts of the country.
The international time zone for Sudan is GMT +2 and the
international dialing code is +249. The international airport at
Khartoum is served by 16 airlines, most of them Middle Eastern.
Sudan Airways operates both internationally and domestically.
Sudan has extensive transport facilities that are, however,
inadequate due to the size of the country. All visitors, except
nationals of Egypt and Tanzania, require visas in order to visit
Sudan.
The main export commodities in Sudan include animals, cotton, cut
flowers, fish, Arabic gum, olibanum, sesame and sugar. The main
import commodities include automotive components, building
materials, agricultural fertilizers food ingredients, medicines,
various petroleum products and textiles and knitwear.
Foreign
Exchange is administered by the Bank of Sudan, with the assistance
of the authorized banks and specialized banks acting as exchange
houses. All exporters and importers are required to register with
the Ministry of Trade.
Import licenses are not required, except for goods imported
through bilateral and preferential trade arrangements.
