President of the Republic and head of the Higher Investment Council FM Umar al-Bashir has called on the Arab and Muslim investors to invest in Sudan. President Al-Bashir said, when addressing [on] Sunday, [24 July], a celebration inaugurated the first phase of Azal Pharmaceutical Factory in Khartoum North, that Sudan linked to some of its neighbourliness with paved roads and railways extending from Port Sudan to Dakar in Senegal. He praised the Arab and Muslims' initiative who entered investment fields in Sudan despite the fierce media campaign against it, referring to the foreign investment as it promoted investment in Sudan. The president of the republic added that Azal Pharmaceutical Factory was deemed as a genuine addition to the industrial activities in the country, congratulating the shareholders on their achievements in this field. He affirmed that the factory is complied with standards of quality, safety and environment preservation, exalting Azal Factory's board of directors for employing and training of Sudanese labour. Minister of Industry Dr Awad Ahmad al-Jaz explained the efforts his ministry exerted to realize self-sufficiency from drugs, inviting the Arab brothers and friends of Sudan to benefit from the Sudan's agricultural and oil capabilities, asserting that Sudan doors will remain opening before investors in all fields. Meanwhile, the chairman of the Azal Factory's board of directors, Sulayman bin Ali Al-Sabi, explained that the productive capacity of the factory was 775 million pills, 180 million capsules and 46 items. He added that the factory, which is Sudanese-Saudi-Yemeni partnership, absorbs in the first phase 120 employees at different divisions, explaining that the work is underway to in take Sudanese labour at 95 per cent to reach 100 per cent by the end of the plan, pointing out that the company plans manpower to reach 700 employees in 2015. He concluded that Azal Factory endeavoured to export its products to the Arab countries and Africa to increase the national income to contribute to the building of Sudan economy. Source: Suna news agency website, Khartoum, in English 26 Jul 11