China will manufacture 17 ships ordered by Sudan, with all vessels arriving in the African country within the next 30 months, according to a contract signed Saturday in Wuhan, capital city of Hubei Province.
It marks the first time for China to export inland river ships to Africa and also the first time that Sudan imports ships from a foreign country since the 1980s.
The ships will be built by Wuchang Shipyard in this capital of central China's Hubei Province. The shipbuilder, which had made ocean-going vessels for Egypt, is known for its advanced ship-building technologies in China.
The Wuhan-based Xingda Corporation signed an agreement of intent with Sudan in 1999 to produce ships valued at US$34 million, including the first group of 17 ships.
All the ships will be transported in parts to the Sudan Harbor and then assembled at an inland port in central part of the country.
(People’s Daily 07/29/2001)
