Acting Undersecretary for GoSS Ministry of Commerce and Industry, John Pan Paguer, made this statement today while welcoming officially a group of staff from his ministry who went to India for short courses between 2007 and 2010.
Mr. Pan said training is the chief priority for the Government of Southern Sudan.
Fourteen civil servants went to India in the last four years for short courses from six weeks up to three months in different areas of management under a cooperation agreement between the governments of India and Southern Sudan.
Augustine Kenyi Alberto was among the first Southern Sudanese to go to India in 2007. He told SCR News that the two-month course he attended was very important because he got knowledge, talent and skills in the area of commerce.
Mr. Kenyi said Southern Sudan is rich in resources and they have to be turned into gain in order to improve the standards of living.
Mr. Kenyi added that his ministry has to attract private investors in order to develop the region.
Elizabeth Sadia Alfred has just returned from a three-month course in proficiency English. She said it was very important because English is the official language in Southern Sudan.
Ms. Sadia added she will teach some English to her colleagues at the ministry.
The participants were trained in a wide range of subjects on quality control, certification of products, enterprise development, industry and small scale investments, financial and personal management, foreign trade and computers among other skills.
Undersecretary Pan announced at the end of the function that the ministry is sending a new batch of staff to India for training.