Cairo and Khartoum agreed to exempt Egyptian and Sudanese citizens from paying additional fees to use the land border ports the two countries share, Ashket-Qostol and Arqin, according to the State Information Service. The two sides also agreed, during talks between investment officials in Khartoum yesterday, to work together to resolve any operational obstacles at the crossings in order to facilitate the movement of cargo and passengers. The move aims to pave the way for further cooperation on investment between Egypt and Sudan, Investment Ministry Undersecretary Fathi Abdel-Azim told Egypt Today, adding that investors will be invited to attend a press conference at the Qostol crossing soon to explore existing opportunities.

Could this mean that Sudan is close to lifting its ban on Egyptian imports? Sudanese officials had reportedly said last month that the government in Khartoum was planning lift its blanket ban on imports of some 19 Egyptian agricultural goods before the start of Ramadan. The ban, which was imposed in May last year, was largely seen as a consequence of souring ties between Egypt and Sudan over the Halayeb and Shalatin border dispute, as well as disagreements over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) new mega dam. While both issues are yet to be resolved, the two sides are working to mend their relations through both diplomatic and economic channels.

Speaking of GERD, Sudan’s Irrigation Minister Moataz Moussa said yesterday that he regretted Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry’s recent remarks blaming the failure of the dam talks on Sudan and Ethiopia, according to Sudan Tribune.