Egyptian Ambassador in Khartoum Osama Shaltout asserted on Friday that a number of Egyptian businessmen and investors intend to increase their direct industrial investments in Sudan in the coming period.

In exclusive statements to MENA, Shaltout said the projects cover exploration and mining, as well as pharmaceutical industries.

He added that he discussed with Sudanese Industry Minister Mohamed Youssef Ali means of fostering bilateral relations in the economic field.

The accumulated Egyptian investments in Sudan exceed 11 billion dollars, the ambassador said, adding that the implemented investments stand at only one billion dollars.

He also said that he discussed with the Sudanese minister measures concerning the industrial zone allocated for Egyptian industrial investors. He pointed out that the zone is established on an area of two million square meters and is located in Khartoum.