BANGKOK—Governor of the Bank of South Sudan, Addis Ababa Othow, has called on East African Community (EAC) member states to strengthen cross-border trade, share technology, and increase investment in infrastructure, energy, and financial services to expand regional markets and economic opportunities.
Othow made the call during a high-level EAC discussion organised by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Group Annual Meetings in Bangkok, Thailand, on Wednesday, October 14, 2026.
Othow said cooperation and technology sharing could help member states like South Sudan learn from other regional economies, strengthen financial services and expand access to financial systems.
“By working together and sharing technology, South Sudan is learning from the experiences of the region to build inclusive financial systems and invest in robust financial services,” Othow said.
He reaffirmed South Sudan’s openness to investment in infrastructure, energy and technology, saying the country sought to develop markets that respond to the aspirations of its people.
The discussions focused on strengthening regional value chains, drawing lessons from Southeast Asia, where regional cooperation has supported trade and investment. Participants also explored opportunities to enhance cooperation in tourism, agriculture, transport connectivity and investment.
The discussions align with the EAC’s economic integration agenda, which includes the Customs Union, Common Market and Monetary Union. The Common Market framework seeks to facilitate the movement of goods, people, labour, services and capital among partner states.
The EAC also promotes regional investment in sectors including infrastructure, agriculture, manufacturing, energy and tourism, with the aim of supporting trade and economic cooperation across member states.
