The Deputy Special Representative of the United Nations Secretary General (SRSG) to South Sudan, Toby Lanzer, has urged the South Sudanese government against depending solely on oil revenue and called for greater investment in agriculture, livestock and fisheries.
In a statement to Radio Tamazuj, Lanzer claimed that while the resumption of oil production will bring many benefits, it also provides opportunity to invest in other capital projects in order to provide for future generations.
“When the oil is back there will be a lot of opportunity to run the affairs of government and invest in other capital projects,” he claimed.
He urged South Sudan to diversify its investment portfolios in order to reflect the breadth of economic opportunity in the country as the income from oil revenue can only be enjoyed for a limited period.
South Sudan recently resumed its oil production after negotiations with Sudan to finally implement a security and trade agreement struck last year. Production had been halted since early 2012 following disputes over the terms by which Sudan and South Sudan were dividing oil revenue.