The national ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment dispelled rumours that it was giving loans to companies to import food and non-food items from various countries.
Rumours spread around Juba that the ministry was offering loans to private and public companies to import urgent goods, Bakhita Radio reported.Undersecretary Simon Nyan Anei denied the rumours.
He explained that the ministry of commerce recommends interested companies to the Central Bank of South Sudan for loans.
He said the project should be systematic because it is intended to address food shortages and high market prices in the country.
Mr Nyang said the ministry is demanding the Central Bank to allocate some money to companies because South Sudan received a loan of 100 million US dollars from international banks.
He added that his ministry has allocated a sum of 35 million dollars from that loan to few selected companies to import food from abroad.
Mr Nyang said the ministry of commerce in collaborating with the Central Bank of South Sudan is ensuring urgent, quick and safe import of food and other essential goods into the country.