South Sudan-Uganda’s first-ever business forum kicks off in Juba

JUBA – South Sudan-Uganda conducted the first-ever business forum in Juba on Tuesday.

The business forum aims to create business opportunities and boost trade and investment between the private and public sectors of the two countries.

The forum held under the theme “Enhancing Bilateral Trade and Investment through Industrialization and Infrastructure Development” was initiated by Uganda’s Embassy in South Sudan in conjunction with the ministries of Foreign Affairs and the private sectors of both countries.

Speaking during the launch of a two-day business forum in Juba on Tuesday, Kuol Athian Mawien, Minister of Trade and Industry, said there are a lot of business opportunities in South Sudan.

“South Sudan is a very fertile land, it has so many resources and we need investors to come and invest in South Sudan. There are a lot of business opportunities for Ugandans to invest in South Sudan,”  Kuol said.

South Sudan Ambassador to Uganda, Mr. Simon Micheal Duku said the business forum will strengthen and boost the bilateral trade and investment between the two countries.

“Our role is to bring businessmen and women of our two sisterly countries to the forefront of the business that will respond to sustainable business development in both countries,” Duku said.

Uganda’s Ambassador to S. Sudan Gen. Ronnie Balya said the forum aims to create an enabling platform that allows the two countries’ public and private sectors to discuss business challenges, identify opportunities, and share experiences.

“This Business Forum is a platform organized to enable the private sector in Uganda and South Sudan to meet, network, examine challenges and identify opportunities to expand their business,” Balya said.

Balya noted that this is the first of its kind since South Sudan got independence in 2011 for Uganda and South Sudan to launch a business forum in pursuit of deeper trade relations between the two countries.

South Sudan is one of Uganda’s biggest trading partners with trade volumes amounting to over $400 million dollars.

The officials said this Business Forum aims at increasing trade volumes to 1 billion dollars annually.