South Sudan minister says that industrial standards will be improved

By Ngor Arol Garang

July 12, 2010 (WUNROK) — The regional government of Southern Sudan on Monday said that it was confident that poor hygiene and low operational standards would be improved after meeting with business leaders at a water bottling plant.

Newly appointed Minister of Commerce and Industry, Stephen Dhieu Dau, was critical of the hygiene, laboratory equipment and lack of clear labeling showing the content, production and expiry dates on an unannounced visit of the Nyayom Mineral Water plant last week.

After an official meeting with the company’s managing directors on Monday, Dau said he had been assured that operational standards would be reviewed and shortcomings would be addressed.

Nyayom Mineral Water managing director Ramish Babu thanked the minister for his unannounced visit on 6 July saying that it had drawn attention to the factory’s shortcomings and said he was committed to working in the interest of the southern Sudan business community.

Dau said that the semi-autonomous government of southern Sudan did not see private firms as rivals but as a means to transform the economy of the region: “We see you as partners, partners on a journey with a common destination. A destination where poverty will be history, where destitution will be a thing of the past and where everybody will be able to live in peace and tranquility.”

The minister challenged companies to work together and make the most of agricultural products already grown in the region by investing in agro-processing – turning primary agricultural products into other commodities.

(ST)