Sudan officials, Saudi crown prince talk Red Sea investments

Sudan officials, Saudi crown prince talk Red Sea investments

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) “” Sudan's prime minister and Saudi Arabia's powerful crown prince met Wednesday to discuss Saudi investment opportunities in the Red Sea, the Sudanese government said, as the kingdom seeks to boost its influence across the strategic Horn of Africa.

The high-level Sudanese delegation flew to Saudi Arabia this week for a two-day visit as the northeastern African nation struggles to revive its ailing economy and secure a transition to democratic rule. After years as a pariah under now-ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir, Sudan has increasingly returned to the international fold, overhauling its economy to attract badly needed foreign investment.

The meeting between Sudanese officials, including Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok, and Saudi Arabia's de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, "was friendly and establishes a new chapter“ in the countries' ties, said the sparse Sudanese statement. It did not offer specifics on Saudi investment projects, but said talks focused on the "transformation“ of the Red Sea into "a large development area to eradicate the roots of terrorism and poverty“ and increase tourism.

The Red Sea features heavily in Saudi Arabia's so-called Vision 2030 to diversify its economy away from oil with business zones along the coast. The Saudi-led military coalition's intervention in