Sudan Privatization Program: Putting the Cart before the Horse
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18533/ijbsr.v5i2.692Keywords:
Privatization prerequisites, privatization program, SudanAbstract
The aim of this study is to examine whether Sudan privatization program takes into consideration the necessary prerequisites for privatization, which include proper transparency, competition and regulatory framework, a dynamic capital market, a safety net program, proper sequencing and timing, institutional and legal reforms, and above all political commitment and support for the implementation of the program. Moreover, this study aims at examining the various problems that face the implementation of the privatization program. The study adopts a combination of comparative, descriptive, and analytical methods, where it depends on both secondary and primary sources. The study main findings indicate that Sudan privatization program has overlooked the above-mentioned necessary prerequisites for privatization, for instance a large number of public enterprises were privatized even before both an adequate regulatory or competitive framework were put into place. Furthermore, Sudan lacks a dynamic capital market, as well as a financial infrastructure of brokerage houses, banks, lawyers. In addition, the program's timetable is inadequate. Moreover, despite the progress made in disseminating the necessary information about the implementation of the privatization program, the government should make more efforts in this area. Also, most of enterprises privatized through Al-Aylola formula had failed to register any improvement in its performance (i.e., those enterprises which were transferred from the central or federal government to state governments), and the adoption of this formula indicates clearly the inordinate power of the President's Office, as well as the lack of co-ordination between the different government bodies.
References
Ali, A. (2006). “Impact of privatization on public corporation”. MSc. Thesis. Sudan University of Science and Technology.
Al-Noman, A. (2013). “Impact of privatization on the performance of Sudanese free zones and market company (2000-2008)”. Sudan University of Science and Technology.
Awad, M. (1991). The Sudan and the IMF. Khartoum: Khartoum University Press.
Ayubi, N (1997). “Etatisme versus privatization: The changing economic role of the state in nine Arab countries”, in Handoussa, H. (ed), Economic transition in the middle east: global challenges and adjustment strategies. Cairo: The American University Press.
Buchs, T. (2003). Privatization in Sub-Saharan Africa: some lessons from experience to date.
Carvounis, C. (1984). The debt dilemma of developing nations: issues and cases. London: Aldwych.
El-Amen, A. (2008). “Privatization Policy in Sudan and its impact on the banking sector, a case study of real estate bank”. Sudan University of Science and Technology.
Elbeely, K. (2008). "Sudan privatization policy: some implications for labourers and employment (1992-
, Banking and Financial Studies Journal. Issue no 11. PP 9-32.
Harik, I. (1992). “Privatization: the issue, the prospects, and the fears”, in Harik, I and Sullivan, D. (eds), Privatization and Liberalization in the Middle East. USA: Indiana University Press.
Hellman, J. S. (1998). “Winners take all, the politics of partial reform in post communist transitions”, World Politics. Vol. 50, no. 2. PP. 203-34.
Kaballo, S. and Bush, R. (1991). ‘The Sudan state: continuity and change’. a paper presented to the Sudan: Environment and People Conference, Durham University. 8-11 April 1991.
Moore, P. (2000). ‘Coalitions for reform? business and State in Jordan’. A paper presented to the first mediterranean social and political research meeting. Florence, Italy. 22-26 March 2000.
Noureldin, A. (2013). "An overview of the privatization program". a paper presented to the privatization of public enterprises workshop. Khartoum, Sudan. 28th January 2013.
Osman, A. (2001). Manhgiat Al-Aislah Al-Agitisadi fi Al-Sudan (Methodology of economic reform in Sudan). Khartoum: Sudan Printing Press.
Pfeifer, K. (1999). “Parameters of economic reform in North Africa”, Review of African Political Economy.
Vol. 82. PP 441-454.
Sfakianakis, J. (2002). “In search of bureaucrats and entrepreneurs: the political economy of the export agribusiness sector in Egypt”, in Bush, R. (ed), Counter-Revolution in Egypt’s Countryside. London: Zed Books Ltd.
Suliman, O. (2007). "Current privatization policy in Sudan". USA: University of Michigan Press.
Woodward, D. (1992). Debt, adjustment and poverty in developing countries. London: Printer Publishers in association with Save the Children.
World Bank. (2013). Interim strategy note (FY 2014-2015) for the Republic of the Sudan.
Sudan government and related
Al-Rayaam. (Khartoum). @ www.rayaam.net. An Independent Newspaper.
The National Council for Telecommunications Act. 1994.
Sudan Government. (1990). the Three-Year National Salvation Economic Programme. June 1990.
The Telecommunications Act. 2000.
Transitional National Assembly. (1995). Report of the Supervisory Administrative Committee on the Implementation of the Privatization Program. April 1995.
Primary sources (interviews)
/8/2000. Dr. Al-Buni. Head of the Political Science Department, Omdurman Islamic University and a well-known columnist as well, Al-Rayaam Newspaper. Khartoum.
/8/2000. Hasim Al-Beshir. Vice-President, Sudan Workers Trade Unions Federation. Khartoum.
/8/2000. Hafiz Atta Al-Manan. Chairman of the Technical Committee for Disposition of Public Enterprises. Khartoum.
/8/2000. Fathi Beshir. Head of the Tariff Department, General Corporation for Telecommunications. Khartoum.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
- Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
- Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).
