Africa-Press – South-Sudan. The ministry of trade and investment is developing a national export and investment strategy to boost the economy.
The director-general of private sector development in the ministry revealed this during a meeting with a delegation from the Lamu Port, South Sudan and Ethiopia (LAPSSET) infrastructure project. The meeting also involved the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa.
Mary Akech, Director-General of Private Sector Development, said they have identified six products that could be developed for export. They include fruits, vegetables, oilseeds, livestock, and fisheries.
“This can be developed for experts once the strategy is ready.”
“It can be implemented, and then we will get into the production of these identified products for export,” Mary stated.
South Sudan is seeking full participation in regional and international trade organisations to boost exports.
Last month, the government invited a delegation from the UNECA sub-regional office for Eastern Africa to come and assist the country in developing a national strategy for the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), both of which South Sudan has signed.
South Sudan is actively undertaking the Northern Corridor infrastructure project, which includes Kenya, South Sudan, and Ethiopia as members.
LAPSSET projects
The Lamu Port, South Sudan and Ethiopia (LAPSSET) initiative is a massive infrastructure project that, once finished, will link East Africa with West Africa, via the port of Lamu in Kenya.
Each partner state is responsible for a certain project. Kenya constructs Lamu Port, as well as roads, standard railway lines, and an oil pipeline to link South Sudan and Ethiopia, while the two countries construct roads, railway lines, and an oil pipeline.
The LAPSSET project aims to improve trade between the three countries as well as with the rest of the region within Africa and beyond.
Meanwhile, Adeyinka Adeyemi, senior advisor of African Trade at the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, said the UN was committed to assisting South Sudan in implementing the Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement, as well as the private sector, civil society organizations, and the media in building capacity and achieving development goals.
“This country needs industrialisation,” he said, adding that UNECA will assist the government in developing an industrial plan.
“We see trade as a development locomotive. We see trade as a tool to achieve peace in South Sudan,” Adeyinka noted.
For More News And Analysis About South-Sudan Follow Africa-Press
