S. Sudan: Turkish company to invest in airlines, energy sectors

September 26, 2012 (JUBA) – A group of Turkish investors are in Juba, the South Sudan capital to explore trade and investment opportunities within the airline industry, energy and the health sectors of the country’s economy.

The 25-member delegation, led by the President of the Turkish-based Atlasjet airline, Murat Ersoy, was received at Juba International Airport by Ronald Ruay Deng, the Northern Bahr el Ghazal state Minister for Trade, Industry and Investment.

Ersoy, in a brief media address at the airport, said the group was inspired by the huge investment potential in the young nation, adding that investing in the airline industry will commence once a cooperation agreement is reached between the two parties.

“We will look around South Sudan and make any decision on which other sectors could be worth investing in,” said the President of one of Turkish largest airlines.

The move followed a recent trip made to Istanbul, the Turkish capital by a group of South Sudanese, under Kenya Commercial Bank’s (KCB) business club arrangements.

Deng, who was part of the trip to Turkey, told journalists he was impressed by the quick response from the Turkish investors, almost a week after the visit to their country.

“This is a unique moment and we hope some investment opportunities will come out from this visit,” he said, adding, that the delegation will also hold talks with several government officials and the business fraternity.

It however remains unclear how much money the Turkish airline company will inject into South Sudan’s economy, which is heavily dependent on oil revenues to support its annual budget.

(ST)