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Tokyo, December 4, 2025

The Sudanese Ambassador to Japan held a meeting yesterday with Mr. Yoichi Watanabe, Vice Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan, in the presence of the Director General of the Africa and Latin America Department at the ministry, two other officials, and Mr. Ali Mohamed Osman, Counselor at the Sudanese Embassy. This meeting comes as part of the Sudanese Embassy’s efforts to strengthen bilateral cooperation between the two countries in the agricultural, livestock, and fisheries sectors.

The meeting praised Japan’s continued development support in agriculture, particularly the successful project of producing heat-resistant wheat varieties through cooperation between the University of Khartoum, the Agricultural Research Corporation, and Tottori University in Japan, supported by JICA. It also highlighted the agricultural and irrigation development project in the River Nile State, including barley cultivation and aerial wheat farming.

The Japanese Vice Minister pledged to provide the necessary support to ensure Sudan’s successful participation in the International Agricultural Expo to be held in Yokohama in 2027.

The Ambassador handed the Vice Minister a proposed draft Memorandum of Understanding between Sudan’s Ministry of Animal Resources and Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, covering areas of mutual cooperation and their enhancement. Both sides agreed to study the draft with a view to signing it at a later date.

On another note, the two sides discussed the technical steps required to initiate Sudanese halal meat exports to the Japanese market. It was agreed to form a joint technical team of veterinary experts from both ministries to examine and agree on the technical requirements, regulations, and health standards necessary for importing meat into Japan.

It is worth noting that several Japanese companies have contacted the embassy expressing their interest in importing halal meat from Sudan due to its high quality and global reputation. Demand for halal meat in the Japanese market has been steadily increasing, exceeding $300 million in 2024, representing a 40% increase compared to the previous year. This growth is attributed to the rising number of Muslims in Japan, increased interest among Japanese consumers in halal meat due to perceived health benefits, and the steady rise in halal restaurants across Japanese cities, alongside the recent surge in tourism.