Zim explores South Sudan - NewsDay

ZIMTRADE — Zimbabwe’s trade development and promotion body — plans to host trade and investment opportunities seminars aimed at exposing the country’s business community to trade prospects available in South Sudan, the world’s youngest country.

By the Business Reporter

The seminars are set for month end in Bulawayo and Harare.

In a statement, the trade and development promotion body said it had carried a study on opportunities in South Sudan for Zimbabweans to penetrate.

“A multi-sectoral research was recently carried out in Juba, South Sudan, to investigate market opportunities in trade and investment for Zimbabwean companies,” Zimtrade said.

South Sudan gained its independence last year.

Despite being endowed with oil reserves, the economy of South Sudan is widely regarded as one of the world’s weakest and most underdeveloped with little existing infrastructure and the highest maternal mortality and female illiteracy rates. Areas targeted for investment include agriculture implements and inputs, building, construction, engineering and the services sector.

In July last year, a delegation from South Sudan was in the country to explore bilateral co-operation opportunities and called upon local businesspeople to invest in their country’s educational system, tourism industry, communication and technology, among other sectors.

The delegation said South Sudan was endowed with a lot of mineral resources to explore and fertile soils, but the country remained poor.

The local business community expressed interest in the construction of roads, hotels, hospitals, schools, police and army accommodation.

A pledge to support the establishment of a national indigenous bank and the setting up of a stock exchange that would assist in attracting foreign capital into South Sudan was also made.