Sudan’s Khartoum Stock Exchange launches electronic trading system

Sudan’s Khartoum Stock Exchange inaugurated its electronic trading system on 24 March. The system is funded by the African Development Bank as part of its $34.8 million Public Financial and Macroeconomic Management (PFM) project. The bank says in a press release: “The e-trading system will be instrumental in promoting rapid development of the Khartoum Stock Exchange Market, which is a central element in the country’s financial market.”

According to a report on Sudan News Agency, Dr. Azhari Al-Tayib Al-Faki Director-General of KSE, said the launch was for the second phase of the trading system, financed by a $400,000 AfDB grant to cover system development and capacity building. He says it will reactive the market operations and allow remote access. He adds the update is by a company called FMH International and adds that it did a first phase of the project in 2012.

Abdul Kamara, Resident Representative of the AfDB in Sudan, said electronic trade is increasingly important. He stressed that the Bank’s support emanates from the considerable advantages of trading electronically, which reduces the risk associated with physical cash transactions, lowers transaction costs and saves time. He also noted the potential of e-trading to improve transparency, flow of information and enhance domestic resource mobilization, such as Sukuk bonds on which Sudan heavily depends on for financing infrastructure and service delivery. He assured the government of the Bank’s continued assistance in the area of public financial management and enhancing accountability in the use of public resources.

The market was previously open for 1 hour a day Sunday to Thursday. The KSE has 66 listed companies, including 25 banks, 8 insurance companies and 11 investment and development companies. The primary market was launched in 1994 and In 2012 a total of $113m worth of shares were issued. There was also primary market issues for each Government Musharaka Certificates (Shahama), Government Investment Funds (Sukuks) and investment fund sukuks, bringing the total value of primary market issues in 2012 to $1.08 billion.

Other parts of the PFM project aim to create a “platform for establishing electronic public financial systems, which will ultimately form basis for the transition of electronic governance and administration of public resources. Other complementary systems that are being developed by the PFM include an Integrated Financial Management and Information System (IFMIS). This will integrate Sudan’s public financial management systems with other systems in line ministries, through a customized IT infrastructure that will enhance electronic transactions, information flow and interaction across ministries,” according to the AfDB press release.

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