Warrap pledges to facilitate investment in infrastructure development

By Ngor Arol Garang

December 19, 2009, (KHARTOUM) — Tor Deng Mawien, Governor of Warrap, home state of GOSS President, Lt General Salva Kiir Mayardit, pledged to facilitate investment in infrastructure development.

“Although there are challenges lying ahead, especially in improving the livelihoods of our people, my government takes on responsibility to facilitate infrastructure development to connect rural areas to urban towns,” he said.

“If our rural communities have difficulties in reaching towns with their produces, then the meaning of peace would mean something different to them if it does not lead to the economic empowerment of our people,” he further said.

Mr. Tor who was addressing trade union meeting in Kuajok on Satureday 19, challenged Warrap State citizens to rise and actively embrace the spirit of entrepreneurship to create wealth and employment opportunities.

The governor pointed out the important role of the private sector in the development of the region saying that a country is never developed by government alone without lending hands from private sector, it is collection of efforts of citizens that brings development to any country.

Born to a cattle rearing family in the village of Atut Kuel, west of Gogrial town located north east of Kuajok town, the state capital of Warrap, he said as a farmer himself, he wants to see significant reduction in poverty, especially in rural areas, and that his administration is exploring innovative ways of introducing new farming systems that include conservation farming to boost rural production and productivity.

The governor selling plans and activities of his government as he intends to go for the same gubernatorial position also advised state ministry of agriculture, animal resources, fisheries and forestry to seriously embark on the tree-planting initiative to improve agricultural productivity in rural areas through planting of indigenous nitrogen-fixing trees.

He also called on women and the youth to mobilize themselves through clubs, societies or co-operatives to take advantage of opportunities for economic progress availed to them through community based organizations for Economic Empowerment and micro-finance institutions.

“These organizations such as Sudan micro finance banks with headquarters in Yei, Central Equatoria State, have branch offices in the states,” he said

Organized people should go and apply for loans; he said adding it could be women groups, youth group or however you want to acquire loans as groups.

(ST)