S. Sudan Chamber of Commerce raises awareness for business development

By Isaac Vuni

May 23, 2009 (JUBA) – The Chamber of Commerce, Industry and
Agriculture of Southern Sudan held an awareness event Saturday, citing
the role of the business community in the liberation struggle and
development of south Sudan.

”It’s you the business communities to lead the front line for
accomplishment of development in southern Sudan without resorting to
guns,” remarked Comrade Acuil Malith Banggol. He added though that all
traders must pay taxes properly to enable the masses to benefit from
development of Southern Sudan.

Banggol observed that the Chamber of Commerce was established since
2006 but has not been represented in the Southern Sudan Legislative
Assembly. Therefore the SPLM Secretariat for Popular and Syndicated
Organizations invited a legal officer to read out the legal procedure
for capacity-building of business communities to become positive
participants in economic development of South Sudan.

The officer then invited them to elect a chairperson of their choice
but some people bitterly protested the legal procedure, which was
supposed to be read and approved by them.

Numbering close to 1,000 in membership, the region’s business
association reportedly had used electronic media to invite northern
Sudanese and foreigners operating businesses in southern Sudan to
participate in the awareness event, but these declined to attend.

Meanwhile, Chairman of South Sudan Chamber of Industry and Agriculture
Association Ngor Ayuel Kacgor said that interim constitution of the
Government of Southern Sudan stipulates that people are the
authorities to derive a people’s government including business
communities.

He emphasized that the association is open to any person to join,
whether local or foreigner. However he regretted to note that northern
Sudanese refused to join the Equatoria Commercial and Ivory Banks
opened in the south.

There are 45 positions to be filled in the Chamber, which are:
chairperson, three deputy chairpersons, five executive officers, and
thirty-six specialized professionals.

So far candidates who have expressed interest in contesting for
chairmanship positions include the current chairman of the association
seeking to have his mandate renewed, and Benjamin Bol Mel Kuolwho, who
have already started serious lobbying among business communities.

(ST)