Participants at the Second South Sudan National Trade Forum have identified weak infrastructure, multiple taxation, limited access to finance, low domestic production, and widespread informal trade as major constraints to economic growth and regional trade integration.
The two-day forum in Juba, held under the theme “From Potential to Prosperity: Harnessing South Sudan’s Competitiveness for Regional Trade Integration,” brought together government officials, private sector actors, civil society, and development partners to review challenges in the trade sector and propose solutions.
A communiqué from the forum cited slow implementation of previous recommendations, weak institutional capacity, underdeveloped industrial infrastructure, and high costs of doing business as persistent barriers to trade and investment.
Participants also raised concerns over smuggling, illegal checkpoints, overlapping taxes, weak quality control systems, and a shortage of technical skills in the workforce.
According to them, South Sudan remains heavily dependent on imports and continues to export largely unprocessed raw materials, limiting job creation and economic diversification.
Additional concerns included cybersecurity risks linked to digital trade systems, as well as the need for greater inclusion of women, youth, and persons with disabilities in economic activities.
To address these challenges, stakeholders recommended harmonizing taxes and fees across government levels, removing illegal checkpoints, strengthening customs systems, and intensifying efforts to combat smuggling and improve institutional coordination.
They also called for improved digital trade platforms, stronger product certification systems, and sustained public-private dialogue through annual trade forums.
In the long term, the forum urged increased investment in agriculture, livestock, fisheries, manufacturing, and other productive sectors to reduce import dependence and boost exports.
Other recommendations included promoting value addition, developing industrial parks and special economic zones, improving access to finance for small and medium-sized enterprises, investing in skills development, and expanding transport, energy, and ICT infrastructure.
The communiqué was signed by Trade and Industry Minister Dr. Labanya Margaret Mathya, South Sudan Chamber of Commerce Chairperson Losidik Lado Lukak Legge, civil society representative Edmond Yakani, National Legislative Assembly Trade Committee Chairperson Eng. Mayen Deng Alier Mading, and South Sudan Bankers Association Chairperson Bruna Siricio Iro.
The forum resolved to institutionalize the National Trade Forum as an annual platform to track progress and strengthen accountability among government, the private sector, and development partners.