Nairobi — Kenya and Sudan will sign a bilateral trade agreement that will open up the vast Sudanese market to Kenyan entrepreneurs.

Trade and Industry assistant minister, Abdirahman Ali, this week led a Kenyan delegation on week-long business trip to the Sudanese capital, Khartoum.

Ali said ongoing talks would mark the last leg of the negotiations that opened in 2001.

"We are set to sign the agreement to facilitate the free flow of business between the two countries," he said.

Trade and Industry PS, David Nalo, said the Government was keen on supporting investment in Southern Sudan including Juba where Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) has invested close to Sh72 million.

The PS said the trade agreement should specifically deal with the elimination of non-tariff barriers such as the requirement that Kenyans travelling to Sudan for the first time obtain a visa.

Maina said the requirement was impeding people's movement and limiting the supply of goods and services. "We have been trying to promote open and honest trade between the two countries, but we have yet to realise any gains because of the barriers," she said. "We are happy to be trading with Kenya but this trade is not helping us much because it is heavily tilted in favour of Kenya," said Dr Abbas Mohammed, an under secretary in Sudan's Ministry of Investment.

Nalo, however, assured the Sudanese officials that Kenya was not just chasing profits but was also interested in making the trade mutually beneficial.

Over the past two years trade between the two countries has grown by more than 200 per cent. The Sudanese authorities, however, maintained that they would only be happy if anomalies that skew business in Kenya's favour are removed.

"Despite going through nearly three decades of civil war, Sudan has maintained consistent economic growth."

Meanwhile, Southern Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit will attend a conference in Nairobi on March 14 to discuss cooperation between the private sector and Sudanese investors.

The two-day conference, dubbed "Southern Sudan Investment and Development Conference" which begins on March 14, will target international investors, financiers and the service sector.

"The conference will offer a forum for the Sudanese private and public sectors to showcase opportunities in the oil, gas, power, infrastructure and agriculture sub-sectors," said Karegwa Muchiri, the event's coordinator.

"Emphasis will be placed on dialogue and encouraging each participant to put forward their thoughts, reservations and needs."

Muchiri said the meeting would review the investment climate and the impact of the peace agreement on energy and infrastructure development .

Also lined-up for discussion is consolidating the peace agreement in Sudan, especially relations between North and South.

Other topics include the Sudan's international relations, US position on sanctions, and the challenges of the peace agreement in relation to investment. Speakers expected at the conference include Southern Sudan Vice President, Dr Riek Machar Teny, Minister for Housing, Lands and Public Utilities, Malik Agar Eyre and Kenya Southern Sudan Liaison Office director, Daudi Waithaka.