South Sudan launches National Export and Investment Strategy

(Juba/Geneva) – The Government of South Sudan today launched its five-year National Export and Investment Strategy in Juba, with the vision of “A sustainable, productive and diversified economy for inclusive development and prosperity in South Sudan.”

By initiating vital policy reforms and infrastructure initiatives, the Strategy will support investment in productive capacities and domestic and cross border trade. Jointly drafted by public and private stakeholders, the Strategy is dedicated to:

• Foster private-sector-led growth, ensuring transparency, and upholding trade policy consistency.
• Prioritize integration into the East African Community (EAC) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
• Bolster local production, curbing imports, and stabilizing inflation for economic resilience.
• Nurture the potential of its youth and women through skills enhancement, vocational training, and gender-sensitive initiatives.
• Implement measures to unlock trade and investment potential in six priority sectors: fruits and vegetables, gum arabic, hides & skins, natural honey, oilseeds, and wildlife tourism.
• Offer viable market opportunities for South Sudan in neighbouring EAC countries and across the African continent.

As a result of a highly consultative process, qualitative and quantitative research led by the International Trade Centre (ITC), a United Nations agency supporting small businesses, the National Export and Investment Strategy provides a coherent roadmap for developing productive capacities and attract investment. Evidence from ITC’s 2022 SME Competitiveness Survey informed all six sector strategies.

ITC and Afreximbank join forces to help South Soudan use trade as an engine of growth, development, and economic resilience, for its people, including women, youth and vulnerable communities.

Quotes

‘Trade, investment, and regional integration can drive the country’s growth, development and stability. The Strategy shows the consensus among all stakeholders to reach a sustainable, productive and diversified economy for inclusive prosperity in South Sudan. At the same time, the Strategy highlights the need for addressing economic fundamentals such as physical infrastructure, energy supply, and internet connectivity, as well as inflation and foreign exchange volatility to support trade, small business and economic stability. It is a call for a partnership between government, business and development partners.’

Pamela Coke-Hamilton, Executive Director, International Trade Centre (ITC)

‘The National Export and Investment Strategy stands as a beacon guiding the government, private sector, and development partners, fortifying the competitive prowess of South Sudanese businesses, and ultimately propelling the entire nation forward. I am deeply grateful for the African Export-Import Bank’s vital financial support, which plays a pivotal role in turning the Strategy into a tangible achievement for South Sudan. The Government of South Sudan is resolved in fully embracing and executing the Strategy.’

Mary Akech Milla, Undersecretary, Ministry of Transport, South Sudan, National Focal Point for National Export and Investment Strategy

‘Our partnership empowers South Sudan's quest for economic stability, driving policy reforms and infrastructure development, promoting growth, trade, and regional integration.’

Benedict Omarah, President, African Export-Import Bank (AfrEximBank)

The National Export and Investment Strategy was developed under the aegis of the Government of South Sudan under the leadership of the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the Ministry of Investment, with financial support from Afreximbank and technical assistance provided by ITC’s One Trade Africa Initiative.

Notes to the Editor

About AfrEximBank- The African Export-Import Bank (AfrEximBank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution with the mandate of financing and promoting intra-and extra-African trade. AfrEximBank was established in October 1993 and owned by African governments, the African Development Bank, and other African multilateral financial institutions as well as African and non-African public and private investors. The Bank was established under two constitutive documents, an Agreement signed by member states, which confers on the Bank the status of an international organization, and a Charter signed by all Shareholders, which governs its corporate structure and operations. The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt. For more information, visit: www.afreximbank.com

About ITC - The International Trade Centre is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations. ITC assists small and medium-sized enterprises in developing and transition economies to become more competitive in global markets, thereby contributing to sustainable economic development within the frameworks of the Aid-for-Trade agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals. For more information, visit www.intracen.org. Follow ITC on Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Instagram | Flickr

About ITC’s One Trade Africa – One Trade Africa works to enable, empower and enhance African MSMEs, women and youth entrepreneurs to access new transformative business opportunities created by the AfCFTA. The programme embraces a three-pronged delivery model which supports African MSMEs to compete, connect and change at the enterprise, business ecosystem and policy levels. ITC provides African MSMEs with training, advice and coaching to build capacities, connect to new and more lucrative markets, and create jobs.