Agricultural foreign direct investment (AFDI) contributes to the long-term growth of developing countries. Sudan has rich agricultural resources with great potential for AFDI. However, so far, Sudan has not exploited this potential to attract investors from other countries, having less of a competitive advantage in agricultural production owing to local and international problems. In this study, we examined the effects of foreign investments of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries on agricultural exports in Sudan, in addition to other economic factors during 1990–2016 using the two-stage least squares (2SLS) model. The results showed that the investments of GCC countries in Sudan’s agricultural sector boosted agricultural exports. The exchange rate was found to be a key determinant factor of GCC countries deciding to invest in Sudan. We recommend that the Central Bank of Sudan encourage policies to stabilize the exchange rate to attract more agricultural investment from GCC countries.

Date production farms account for 10% of total income in the agricultural sector. Although Saudi exports of dates reach many countries, they are still of lower quantity compared to the size of their production. This study investigates the possibility of expanding external marketing of date exports by increasing the marketing efficiency of the existing market, which is expected to lead to increased returns. Therefore, this research uses the gravity model to identify the most critical factors affecting Saudi date exports to Middle Eastern countries. The results indicated the positivity of the per capita GDP in Saudi Arabia, the common border in influencing the increase in date exports, and the opposite effect of membership in the Gulf Cooperation Organization (GCC). In estimating the potential and expected trade capabilities with the Middle Eastern countries, the study results show that the actual value of date exports to the countries of the Middle East represents about 83.37% of its expected potential date trade, and it is possible to increase the export value by 16.63%, or USD 12.75 million. The study provides recommendations to improve date trade further.

The research aims to assess fish production, consumption, self-sufficiency rates, and deficits in fish food in Saudi Arabia from 2001 to 2022. It will also evaluate local production sufficiency and import duration and analyze economic and environmental factors influencing fish food security over this period. The study employs descriptive statistical analysis to identify trends, patterns, and outliers in the data, using measures such as means, standard deviations, and growth rates. To investigate the relationships between variables, the research applies the Error Correction Model (ECM), a methodology designed to capture both short-term dynamics and long-term equilibrium relationships. The ECM analysis is supported by unit root tests (Augmented Dickey-Fuller and Phillips-Perron tests) to assess stationarity and cointegration tests to confirm stable long-term connections. Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) estimation techniques are used to derive model coefficients, while additional diagnostic tests ensure the robustness and reliability of the results. Key findings include annual growth rates of 5.8% for fish output, 4.0% for fish imports, and 4.0% for local consumption. The fish self-sufficiency rate has significantly increased at 6.7% per year. However, the fish food gap, local production sufficiency period, and proportion of imported fish consumed daily are growing at rates of 2.7%, 10.9%, and 1.6%, respectively. The error correction model indicates an error correction coefficient of approximately 0.54, statistically significant at 1%. This coefficient represents the percentage of imbalance in the food security coefficient for fish that can be adjusted yearly, with a correction period of about 1.85 years. Thus, it takes roughly 1 year and 10 months for the food security coefficient to return to equilibrium after deviations occur. Based on these findings, the report recommends three actions: increasing modern fishing vessels, funding fish farming initiatives, and reducing environmental pollution to enhance self-sufficiency and outpace population growth.