South Sudan trade fair seeks to draw investors

By Isaac Vuni

June 10, 2009 (JUBA) — Launching an international trade fair in Juba, the new minister for Culture, Youth and Sports, Gabriel Changson Chang said southern Sudan has a lot of economic potential.

He appealed to the regional Minister of Finance and Economic Planning to better support microfinance initiatives for the southern Sudanese business community and told international traders that they would be connected internationally through satellite TV transmission worldwide at a cost of about two million dollars a year effective in this year’s budget.

The Minister for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Barnaba Marial Benjamin, assured international exhibitors that southern Sudan has fertile tropical soils in Eastern and Western Equatoria, greater Upper Nile and Bahr el Ghazal regions capable of boosting its economic development.

He added that south Sudan has the biggest animal population estimated at 12 million head of cattle and 11 million sheep and goats in Upper Nile, Bahr el Ghazal and Eastern Equatoria, yet people walk bare foot.

Also referring to Southern Sudan’s rich water resources from the Nile River, he lamented that there is nevertheless no running tap water for bathing, cleaning or drinking. He pointed to forest resources as well, cement production needs in Eastern Equatoria, and untapped potential in fisheries.

Benjamin, who until recently was the Minister of Regional Cooperation, elucidated that the first East African International Trade Fair was meant to show products made from southern Sudan as well as promote trade relations with neighbouring countries, promote local products and create job opportunities.

The newly appointed Government of Southern Sudan Minister of Transport and Roads, Anthony Lino Makana met in his office today with Jerry L. Jones, the president of Magnum Business Management, a US-based company.

Jones, an African American investor, had arrived to Juba from a visit to West Africa to look for business opportunities, according to an official source. His company was initially formed to enter into exclusive sales and marketing agreements for mining and natural resources in Central Africa. Jones has spent more than 15 years running transportation business in three west African countries.

The investor also met with the Under Secretary of the roads ministry, Engineer Daniel Wani, expressed desire in doing business in South Sudan, and said that as an African American he has a big heart to do business in Africa.

In his presentation with overhead projector on the transportation industry, Jones said he is ready to start his public transportation as early as July of 2009 with at least 60 to 75 buses and 200 taxis, which will gradually expand and increase to all the 10 states of the South Sudan. He continued saying that by the year 2011, he would employ not less than 20,000 South Sudanese in various skilled and non-skilled jobs within his company.

Makana said, “You are welcome to South Sudan,” adding that the region’s government will definitely help him establish his transportation business.

Commenting on the road network in landlocked south Sudan, Minister Benjamin noted that three major border routes — Kaya-Juba, Nimule-Juba and Nadapal-Juba – are prominent for promoting trade in southern Sudan. Yesterday the Ugandan Police Inspector General was in Juba to discuss security along trade routes.

The commerce minister appeals to any interested investors to come seriously invest and they will surely be accorded a conducive environment for protection in running their businesses.

Finally, Dr. Benjamin thanked the former minister of commerce and industry, Hon. Anthony Lino Makana and the entire staff for tremendous effort in laying foundation of Commerce and Industry Ministry that has created a strong forum ahead of his own appointment to the ministry in the recent cabinet reshuffle.

Earlier, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said there are fifteen registered investors operating in southern Sudan but could not give details as he was busy meeting other potential investors and the ceremony was poorly attended.

(ST)