Bureau of Standards asks trade minister to increase budget for institution

JUBA – South Sudan’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Amb. Joseph Moum Majak, received a grand reception from the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS), amid calls for a larger budget, capacity building, and improved staff welfare.

In his first visit to the Bureau of Standards’ Metrology and Central Labs since assuming office, Amb. Moum commended the bureau’s staff for their efforts in ensuring food safety.

“It was an opportunity for me to visit all the departments of the Bureau of Standards today, including labs,” he said.

“I was privileged to receive briefings from all the departments, and I’m happy that we have a skilled group of scientists and professionals who are able to do the work, regardless of the challenges they face,” he added.

Amb. Moum stressed the importance of joint efforts to enhance consumer product safety, strengthen quality control measures, and improve standards to meet regional and international trade requirements.

“As South Sudan integrates further into the global economy, adopting and enforcing strong standards will be key to improving investor confidence and expanding market access,” he said. “Therefore, we must work together to develop and implement policies that not only regulate imports and exports but also foster sustainable economic growth.”

From her part, the Executive Director of the National Bureau of Standards, Gloria Nyoka, called for a larger budget, explaining that the 5% allocated for staff incentives is currently being used to fund her office’s operations.

“The 5% is supposed to be the incentive for the staff. Unfortunately, due to the economic crisis and the lack of funding from other sources, it is the same 5% that we are using for our services in the Bureau,” she said.

“This is why we are looking forward to submitting a request to increase this 5%, which I believe will reach you as a policymaker,” she added.

Nyoka also highlighted the need for well-functioning laboratories across the country and raised concerns about the bureau’s outdated vehicles, which are costly to repair.

“So, we are also looking forward to presenting a request to you to help us lobby for mobility, especially vehicles, so that the work can be done effectively at the Bureau,” she said.

Furthermore, Nyoka spoke of plans to expand the Bureau of Standards’ presence to ten states and three administrative areas. She also advocated for the passage of the National Quality Policy to address overlapping powers within the sector.

The SSNBS Executive Director emphasized the need for staff capacity building to improve quality outcomes.

“We have some projects with a few development partners who are training our staff and equipping them to use equipment and conduct inspections. However, it is not enough,” she said.

Nyoka proposed an ambitious plan to establish a metrology institute in Wau, Western Bahr El Ghazal State, stressing that the Bureau of Standards cannot function effectively without metrology.

Highlighting a recent achievement, Nyoka recalled the launch of the Quality Mark Certification, a local quality award competition, which led two firms to participate in the East African Community (EAC) Quality Award competition.