South Sudan's English Daily Newspaper
"We Dare where others fear"
By Awan Achiek
The Minister of Trade and Industry Atong Kuol Manyang On Tuesday said that the high rate of inflation is severely impacting businesses, leading many to close their doors.
“During our forum, we learned that several businesses are shutting down. We are also witnessing currency fluctuations, and its value is diminishing,” Kuol said during the reception ceremony for the new undersecretary of the ministry.
She added that the economic crisis has made it difficult for many people to afford basic food items.
“Many people cannot even afford to eat. But what can we do? Can we just sit there and wait for our death, for our economy to collapse, or for our country to fail? Of course not. We have things that we can do individually,” Kuol emphasized.
She stressed the need to prioritize diversifying the economy to improve the living standards of the people.
“Let us focus on our individual strengths and wholeheartedly contribute, doing what we can in our ministry to stabilize the economy,” she said.
“The good thing is that we can ensure we facilitate trade, which will become the backbone of the economy we have.”
Kuol stated that her ministry will work hard to improve the business sector to enhance trade.
“And when we do that right, I am sure something can change just because of our contributions and the contributions of other ministries in their respective areas,” she said.
“This is what I want to say: Let us not think that we are just in the ministry and what we do is unimportant. It is important.”
Achier Manyuat John, the newly appointed Undersecretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, vowed to improve product standards to enhance trade.
“We shall support our infant industries to properly improve their product standards, with packaging and labeling by the South Sudan Bureau of Standards to help us compete equally in the regional and international markets,” Manyuat said.
He also stated that they will ensure goods are made accessible and available at fair prices for citizens.
“Third, we will promote fair competition and consumer protection in the market. To this end, we shall maintain and expand our ministry’s engagement with the business community on how commercial goods and services will be made accessible and available at fair prices for citizens in our local market.”
