British Ambassador Discusses Issues of Concern with Commerce Minister

JUBA – The British Ambassador to South Sudan, Dr. Alastair McPhail met with South Sudan National Minister of Commerce, Industry and investment, Garang Diing Akuong yesterday in Juba to discuss issues of concern and priorities of the Ministry.   “It’s been my pleasure and privilege to call once again on the Minister the Honorable Garang Diing to discuss both the priorities of his Ministry but also how he sees future developments within the country,” said McPhail.   According to him, they discussed the priorities of the ministry, the legislation which the ministry is promoting within the government at the moment, where they can improve the relationship between the two countries among others.  “We also talked briefly about how the situation might change once the oil production recommences,” McPhail stated.   “In total I would say it was a useful and productive meeting, I hope for both sides,” he said.   On his part, Diing said that, “we held a very fruitful discussion about the prospect of the investment in South Sudan and about the cooperation between South Sudan and the international partners and other areas that we might have visited.”   “We also talked that there is possibility of the Ambassador organizing a meeting between some ministers of South Sudan and UK companies either in Juba or in the UK,” he revealed.  This is mainly to clarify what the concerns of these companies are.    Concerning the Ministry of Commerce, Diing explained that he and the ambassador discussed the laws that are governing the trade and investment in South Sudan.  “I briefed the ambassador about the laws that the government of South Sudan has issued in organizing and facilitating trade within the country and between the countries and other factors such as the Investment Act and the Investment Regulation, the consumer protection Act, export and import Act,” he clarified.   He revealed that South Sudan is now drafting a policy about the industry or manufacturing in South Sudan which will later in the future develop in to a law.   Diing also explained to the Ambassador of the trading activities happening between South Sudan and other countries.   He further pointed out the issue of establishing scanners at the border areas for screening containers which come in from neighboring countries, an issue which he discussed with the Ambassador.   “Sometimes our custom staffs at the border do not know what is in the containers,” Ding stated.   Concerning corruption and insecurity in the country, he said that corruption is overplayed in the media, however both agreed that some parts of the country are not secure especially areas bordering the North such as Unity State, and Jonglei where there are tribal clashes.  “So these are isolated areas which the government is working to contain the insecurity in those areas,” Diing said.  He also said resumption of oil flow will encourage investors to invest here in South Sudan.