Passports and Visas

The African nation of Sudan is a hidden gem, with huge deserts, hospitable people, and twice as many pyramids than Egypt.  However, few tourists from the San Francisco Bay Area visit the country: continuing armed conflict with neighboring countries, domestic unrest, and terrorism have kept Sudan off most travelers’ itineraries in recent years.

Located in Northeast Africa, Sudan borders the Red Sea, the Central African Republic, Chad, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Libya, and South Sudan.  The White Nile and the Blue Nile merge at the capital city of Khartoum to create the River Nile, the world’s longest river.

The area known as Sudan has been inhabited for several millennia.  From 780 B.C. through 350 A.D., it made up part of the Kingdom of Kush (which also included part of Egypt).  Over time, Egypt took political control of Sudan and introduced cultural influences that remain today.  By 1896, the United Kingdom and Egypt were exercising joint control of Sudan until the new Republic of the Sudan achieved independence in 1956.  Arab Muslims dominated the northern part of Sudan, while African Christians and other groups dominated the south.  Sudan was the largest country in Africa until South Sudan seceded in 2011.  Today Sudan covers more than 720,000 square miles, making it the third largest African nation.  Official languages are Arabic and English.

Minneapolis, the most populous city in Minnesota with some 425,000 residents, is located at the confluence of the Mississippi, Minnesota, and St. Croix rivers.  The Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan area (commonly known as the Twin Cities region) includes more than three million people in seven counties covering 3,000 square miles.  Minneapolis-St. Paul is considered the cultural, political, and economic center of the region.  Most of Minnesota’s 15 Fortune 500 companies are based in Minnesota, including UnitedHealth, 3M, Target, Best Buy, Land O’Lakes, General Mills, Ameriprise Financial, and U.S. Bancorp.  Cargill, the largest privately owned company in the United States, is also based in the metro area.  Key sectors of the Twin Cities’ diversified economy include agribusiness, food services, healthcare, manufacturing, retail trade, and professional/retail services. 

The nation of China is one of the most important trade partners for Twin Cities companies. “Travel to and from China is critical for several Minnesota companies, such as Medtronic, Ecolab, Hormel, Cargill, Target, and Best Buy,” the St. Paul Pioneer Press reported.  For example, 3M Company, the St. Paul-based diversified conglomerate, operates a 3M China subsidiary that manufactures and distributes numerous rubber and plastic products.  Minnetonka-based global food corporation Cargill has operated in China since the early 1970s, with more than 50 mainland China businesses and 7,000 employees now offering agricultural, energy, metals, and transportation products and services.  The Chinese-American Chamber of Commerce-Minnesota also works to enhance economic development and community engagement.  Chinese companies with operations in Minnesota include Wanxiang America (automotive) and Aviation Industry Corporation.  Minnesota is also the fourth largest U.S. exporter of agricultural products to China. 

Chicago, the third largest metropolitan area city in the United States and the largest in the American Midwest, is home to 2.6 million residents.  The population of the metro area, also known as Chicagoland, is home to more than 8.9 million people in northeast Illinois, northwest Indiana, and southeast Wisconsin.  Chicago and its suburbs host 31 Fortune 500 company headquarters (second only to New York City).  Those include Walgreens, State Farm Insurance, Allstate, United Airlines, Hyatt Hotels, Discover Financial, AbbVie (biopharmaceuticals), and CME Group.  CME operates the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Chicago Board of Trade, New York Mercantile Exchange, and The Commodity Exchange.  The region has one of the most diverse economies in the country, primarily focusing on food innovation and manufacturing, finance and fintech, life sciences, manufacturing, technology, and transportation and logistics. 

China remains an important trade partner for companies in the Chicago area.  The country ranks as the top export destination for Chicago goods and a leading source of imports.  Top exports to China include medication, aircraft parts, medical and scientific instruments, and industrial machinery.  Illinois also exports almost $4 billion to China annually, led by agricultural products, chemicals, machinery, computers, and food products.  Meanwhile, Chicago is the top North American city for foreign direct investment, as more than 1,800 foreign-based companies have invested more than $140 billion in the area.  Chinese companies with significant operations in Chicagoland include Air China, BMF Fire & Security, China Cargo Airlines, COFCO Capital, COSCO Container Lines, Donghua, Ligent Photonics, Wanxiang, and Yuanda.  Organizations such as the United States of American-China Chamber of Commerce work to expand business opportunities between the two nations.

Algeria remains a mysterious and unexplored country for most residents of the San Antonio area, as well as for business leaders across the state of Texas seeking commercial opportunities overseas.

Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and several other North African countries, Algeria’s tropical and subtropical climates encompass fertile land in its northern region and the Sahara Desert to the south.  The second largest country in Africa, Algeria is the continent’s fourth largest tourist destination.  The country also offers numerous business opportunities, particularly in the oil and gas, power, infrastructure, IT, and defense sectors (https://www.trade.gov/country-commercial-guides/algeria-market-opportunities).

Residents of the San Diego area seeking historic ruins, stunning dive sites, mountain hiking, and upscale beach resorts are discovering the Middle Eastern national of Oman.  Located on the southeast corner of the Arabian Peninsula at the mouth of the Persian Gulf, Oman shares land and maritime borders with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran, and Pakistan.

The oldest independent state in the Arab world, the Sultanate of Oman is an absolute monarchy that has been ruled by hereditary sultans for centuries.  From the 17^th Century through the early 20th Century, the Omani Sultanate was an empire that competed with the British and Portuguese empires for influence across the Indian Ocean and the Persian Gulf.  Over time, a series of treaties between the sultans and Great Britain provided the British a greater role in Oman as the Omani Empire declined.  The discovery of petroleum in 1964 transformed the area’s economy into the richest in the world and created a modern petrostate.

Turkmenistan – one of the most repressive and isolated countries in the world – is also one of the least visited nations for travelers from Denver.  However, cautious, adventurous travelers who are not deterred by the difficult process for obtaining a Turkmen visa can enjoy historic, cultural and religious sites, as well as ancient Silk Road trading posts, rare desert wildlife, and resorts on the Caspian Sea.

More than 6.5 million people live in the former Soviet republic, making it one of the most sparsely populated countries in Asia (the population of the entire country is about double that of Denver’s population of 3 million ).  Turkmenistan is bordered by Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Uzbekistan.  For centuries, Turkmenistan has been a trade thoroughfare, as the ancient Silk Road spans the country.  In recent years, its major international trade activities have revolved around its large oil and natural gas reserves.

Singapore, the modern city-state located just off the Malaysian peninsula, draws leisure and business travelers from New Orleans and across the globe with its modern amenities and spectacular natural beauty.  The island nation offers travelers amazing beaches, state-of-the-art accommodations, exciting nightlife, and unique culinary experiences that rival those of “The Crescent City.”.   

Now known as the Republic of Singapore, the tropical archipelago was known for centuries for the marine trading post Temasek.  In the early 1800s, Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles of Great Britain established a port of call in Singapore, eventually transforming the island into a major trading center and a British colony.  Occupied by Japan during the World War II, Singapore separated from Britain in 1959 and became a sovereign nation in 1965.  Today the “Switzerland of Asia” is a global financial and corporate center that ranks among the most prosperous nations around the globe.  Despite being one of the most densely populated countries in the world, Singapore boasts clean modern streets, low crime rates, futuristic skyscrapers, and one of the world’s busiest ports.

Many residents of Las Vegas may not know about the hidden treasures of Mozambique, but with the increase in travel to East Africa, more and more people are discovering the African wildlife and tropical beaches of the “Pearl of the Indian Ocean”.

The Republic of Mozambique, located in southeastern Africa on the Indian Ocean, is almost exactly the same size as the combined land area of Nevada, Arizona, and Utah.  Portuguese settlers ruled the area for more than 400 years before the country gained independence in 1975.  The official language remains Portuguese, although most residents speak one of the native languages as their primary language.  English-speakers are also common, especially in tourist-friendly regions along the coast and around major cities, particularly in southern Mozambique.  The combination of European and African influences has created unique cultural and culinary experiences.

Peru’s fast-growing economy and free trade agreements with the United States continue to offer business opportunities for companies in the Raleigh-Durham area and across the Southeast.  Situated in the western part of South America along the Pacific Ocean and the Andes Mountains, Peru is bordered by Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Ecuador.  The country covers 1.3 million square feet spanning three regions: Coast (Costa), Highlands (Sierras) and Jungle (Amazonia).  The multicultural nation of 31.5 million Spanish and Quechua-speaking inhabitants features the cosmopolitan capital city of Lima alongside vast natural reserves and colorful indigenous traditions.  Lima is roughly an eight-hour flight from Raleigh with one transfer in Atlanta or Miami.

Although the Peruvian economy and internal politics of the country have faced difficulties the past three years due to the pandemic, the country has been among the fastest-growing economies in the Americas the past decade, with an average growth rate of 5.9 percent, according to the World Bank. “Peru has solid macroeconomic fundamentals, including a relatively low public debt to GDP ratio, considerable international reserves, and a solid central bank,” the organization stated.  The World Bank forecasts Peru’s GDP will grow by 3.4 percent in 2022.

The Southeast Asian nation of Myanmar is once again open for Oklahoma City area residents after reopening its borders following the pandemic.  Myanmar was largely closed to the outside world until the government began encouraging tourism in 1992.  The nation quickly became an appealing destination for tourists seeking cultural experiences, spiritual awakenings, unspoiled beaches, and spectacular natural beauty.  While the tourism infrastructure is more established in neighboring countries such as Thailand and Malaysia, Myanmar today reflects the natural environments of those countries before decades of Western-style development made their mark.   

Formerly known as Burma, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar gains its independence from British rule in 1948.  After periods of democracy and military rule, a new civilian government took charge in 2011 that began actively encouraging visitors and building tourist infrastructure.  Millions of tourists followed as the decade progressed.  However, the combination of the COVID-19 pandemic and another military coup d’état in early 2021 devastated tourism.  While political repression and instability continue, travelers have begun returning to Myanmar since the country reopened in mid-2022.