The awareness training, organized in collaboration with the African Organization for Standardization (ARSO), brought together key stakeholders in the automotive sector.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Trade and Industry, Atong Kuol Manyang, underscored the importance of aligning South Sudan’s vehicle imports with international standards to safeguard lives and promote fair trade.
“There are things that we, as South Sudanese, can do — and importers must also play their part,” Atong said. “We have to take responsibility for our safety and ensure that the right products are brought into our country.”
She stressed that harmonizing standards is crucial for South Sudan to keep pace with other African nations already enforcing stringent regulations. Drawing a comparison with frequent plane crashes in the country, the minister warned that vehicles, like aircraft, pose serious risks when substandard.
“Automobiles are the same as planes. If they are not safe, they become a ticket to death,” she cautioned.
Gloria Nyoka, Executive Director of SSNBS, highlighted the broader importance of standards in protecting consumers and the market.
“Automotive standards are not exceptions. They are regulations and requirements covering quality, performance, safety, and emissions — all of which govern the production and use of automobiles,” Nyoka said.
Dr. Hermogene Nsengimana, Secretary General of ARSO, stressed the role of standards in driving Africa’s economic independence.
“You can be independent politically, but if you are not independent economically, there is nothing you can do,” he said.
He emphasized three core areas where standards are essential: ensuring public safety, facilitating trade, and protecting the environment.
According to Nsengimana, ARSO is working to eliminate conflicting standards across the continent by promoting the principle of “one standard, one test, one certificate” that is recognized in all African countries.
“In the automotive sector alone, ARSO has harmonized 139 standards out of a total of 2,440 standards across various industries. No country or continent has developed without a strong automotive sector,” he explained.
He further noted the automotive industry’s vast value chains, which span textiles, leather, mining, and energy.
“The interior of a car involves textiles and leather. The electrical system links to mining, where Africa is heavily involved. For batteries, we see lithium and other minerals. This means Africa can drive development if it strategically focuses on the automotive industry,” Nsengimana said.
