South Sudan’s Ministry of Trade, Industry and East Africa Community Affairs launched a new project aimed to strengthen trade and catalyze inclusive development in the country, at a ceremony held in their headquarters in Juba on 25 October.

 The Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF) Tier I Project is funded by the EIF, a multi-donor global partnership for least developed countries, and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The project aims to strengthen institutional capacities of South Sudan to formulate and implement trade related policies targeting the process of trade integration.

 The Tier 1 Project will be executed over three years and will target building human resource capacity, preparing and updating the Diagnostic Trade Integrated Study (DTIS) for South Sudan, and facilitating and supporting the mainstreaming of trade actions.

In a press statement the Minister of Trade, Industry and East Africa Community (EAC) Affairs Paul Mayom Akec stated: “The role of the Government of South Sudan and capacity of the sectoral ministries must be stepped up with a central role assumed by the Ministry of Trade and Industry. UNDP and partners are contributing US$900,000, and we on our part are making in-kind contribution of $153,000.”

“We know once the project takes off it will enhance the requisite capacity of the Ministry. We need an introduction to East Africa Community market and we need an introduction to the World Trade Organisation (WTO),” Akec continued.

UNDP South Sudan Country Director Dr. Kamil Kamaluddeen stated that Tier 1 project will support the mainstreaming of trade into the national development plan and harness government facilitation efforts to include the private sector in creating an enabling environment to grow domestic competitiveness.

“To deliver, this process requires strong commitment, it requires counterpart funding, discipline, accountability and above all it needs that peace is sustained, that is the only way we can unleash the trade potential in this country,” added Dr. Kamaluddeen.