UNIDO Unveils Roadmap for Sudan's Industrial Recovery, Plans September Investment Mission

The UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) laid out a roadmap on August 18, 2026 for shifting Sudan from traditional post-war reconstruction toward sustainable economic recovery, emphasizing rebuilding value and production chains, job creation, and expansion of the private sector, with small and medium enterprises identified as key growth drivers. The plan includes establishing an Industrial Recovery Fund to mobilize financing. UNIDO Director-General Gerd Müller said 'the time has come to move from discussions and conferences to practical implementation.' UNIDO is organizing an investment mission to Sudan for September 5-11, 2026, bringing European and German companies and international financing and development institutions to identify investment opportunities and build partnerships with Sudan's private sector. Separately, Sudanese Employers' Federation representative Muhannad Awad said addressing gold smuggling — a major RSF revenue source — requires 'creating economic incentives that make keeping gold within Sudan more profitable than smuggling it.'