The fledgling hotel industry in Yambio, Western Equatoria State. [© Gurtong]
By Juma John Stephen
JUBA, 21 February 2010 (Gurtong) – The Government of Southern Sudan’s Minister of Commerce and Industry Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin and the Ugandan Minister of Commerce, Industry, Trade and Tourism Kahinda Otafire cited the travel permits as a major constraint for trade between the two neighbouring countries.
The two spoke at the Ugandan Southern Sudan International Trade Exhibition held at Nyakuron Cultural Centre in Juba last week.
The exhibition was organised by the Association of Uganda Community in Southern Sudan (UCOSS) in order to address challenges facing local and foreign private investors.
“I think we better abolish the visa regime and I am going to inform my government so that anybody with a South Sudanese or Ugandan travel document can walk into each other’s country and trade freely”, said Otafire.
He added that the use of visas “was an introduction of the colonialists to differentiate the people and their countries”.
He said that abolishing travel permits between the two countries will allow open movement of goods and services which will in turn boost the economic development of the two countries.
The minister added that enhanced trade will also boost relations between the neighbouring countries.
In response, Dr Marial accepted the proposal by his Uganda counterpart by pointing out that the issue needs a clear framework of implementation.
Most Sudanese and Ugandans have persistently complained of maltreatment at the borders, making their movements across the borders difficult.
Abolishing the travel permit will mostly benefit the Ugandans who frequent South Sudan for trade.
A Uganda trader told Gurtong that the 140 Sudanese Pounds being charged by the South Sudanese government at the borders is a big deterrent to trade between the two countries.
The trade fair attracted a number of manufacturers, traders and investors who decried the harsh business environments in South Sudan.
The chairman of the association Mathias Kitavujja told the press that stringent entry regulations, insecurity and difficulty in land acquisition were some of the factors hampering trade in South Sudan.
Minister Marial Benjamin pledged enhanced efforts in creating a conducive business environment, saying South Sudan was a country that is still undergoing change.
“South Sudan is ready for business. In terms of land, it has a huge territory which has a lot of potential. I urge Ugandans to continue with plans of investing in this country”, he said.