The Western Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce has recently announced its newly appointed leadership, which aims to address the economic obstacles plaguing markets across the state.
The new body, established last Friday, has pledged to collaborate with the government to rectify the issues stemming from excessive taxes imposed on traders, which have resulted in price hikes.
Speaking in Yambio town last Friday, Malesh Christopher Inock, the state spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce, expressed confidence that the problems associated with price increases due to escalated taxes would be alleviated. He emphasized that individuals with a strong background in economics had been selected to tackle these financial challenges.
Malesh highlighted the findings from their recent visit to all ten counties in the state, identifying several key challenges faced by traders. These challenges include fluctuations in the exchange rate for the United States dollar, burdensome taxes on traders, and inadequate road infrastructure.
He explained, “Upon arrival in the state, goods are initially stored at the customs warehouse. Following customs clearance, traders must store the goods in their own warehouses before distributing them to their shops. Consequently, traders incur substantial costs related to storage and clearance. In South Sudan’s free market economy, traders strive to set prices that allow them to recover these expenses. We held meetings yesterday to explore strategies for normalizing this situation and addressing the supply of US dollars in the market. While we understand the difficulties faced by traders, we emphasize the importance of charging prices that citizens can afford.”
Furthermore, Malesh mentioned that a registration process had been introduced for all traders across the state. This initiative aims to identify the type of businesses being operated, enabling the government and investors to provide targeted assistance.
“While visiting all ten counties, we informed the residents that some individuals falsely claim to be traders. However, upon verification, their names are absent from our records. Additionally, there are criminals who attempt to sell expired goods and drugs. It is crucial for us to identify and address these issues. Any disputes between traders and citizens will be resolved based on the registered traders listed in our records,” Malesh stated.
The newly appointed leadership consists of Lacky Mbakadi as Chairperson, Beneth Samuel as Deputy Chairperson, Armstrong Emmanuel as Secretary, Phillip Wadu as Deputy Secretary, Bernadita Nawangi in charge of Finance, and Malesh Christopher as Information Officer. Tamba Elija has been appointed as the Membership Officer, Asibala Gabriel as the Taxation Officer, and three advisors, along with a trainer, have joined the Western Equatoria State Chamber of Commerce’s new leadership team.