By Juma John Stephen
JUBA, March 3, 2010 (Gurtong) – The Southern Sudan Investment Authority (SSIA) and the authority of Southern Sudan Radio on Tuesday launched the second phase of the Investment Radio Programmes in Southern Sudan Radio which will start immediately according to the Secretary-General of SSIA, Emmanuel Bol Kuanyin.
“We are signing an agreement between Southern Sudan Investment Authority and Southern Sudan Radio for airing of investment programmes over the Radio. This is the second phase of the Radio programmes. The first phase was launched in October last year and ended in December of the same year.” Said Bol.
“To educate South Sudanese on the need for increasing investments in the region, promote South Sudan locally and internationally as a viable place to do business, give a forum to our business people and South Sudanese in general to discuss the very important issue of investment and to show case the work that the Government of Southern Sudan has done to create an attractive environment for investors.” He stressed the importance of the programme.
The enactment of the six laws that support and protect investments in Southern Sudan which includes the Investment Promotion Act 2009 that established SSIA with the mandate of promoting investments in Southern Sudan is important.
“Over 8,000 businesses have been registered since the re-opening of the business registry in March 2007. The business registry has also moved to new refurbished offices, and is undergoing computerization of its processes and records.” Bol said.
“We are now seeing the fruits of all this hard work in the increasing investments that are coming to Southern Sudan, and also the rising interest in this region. An example of such interest is the recent investment and development conference by the League of Arab States.” Outline Bol.
Bol said that the Southern Sudan Investment Authority is determined to ensure that they fulfill their mandate to the fullest extent in a bid to make Southern Sudan become a magnet for investors.”
The Radio Programmes will be run twice a week, in English on Fridays at 5.45-6.30pm, and Arabic on Wednesdays at 8-9pm. There will be live shows and lines open to callers. The International Finance Corporation of the World Bank Group is supporting the programme to enable achievement of the promotion of investment in Southern Sudan.