The East African Business Council or EABC is urging South Sudan to fully implement the Single Customs Territory to encourage intra-regional trade.
Chief Executive Officer EABC John Bosco Kalisa during Public-Private Dialogue at the Elegu/Nimule One-Stop Border Post said that South Sudan delay to implement Customs Territory causes delays in the clearance of cargo at the border.
He explained that transporters reported that occasionally trucks await clearance for two days in the parking yard.
Executive Officer urged EAC Secretariat to mobilize more resources to support South Sudan to finalize the construction of the border post and implementation of EAC protocols in order to facilitate trade.
Traders called for the adoption of technology and digitalization of the customs system to avoid manual processing of documents by South Sudan customs officers delaying clearance.
The women cross-border traders called for quick infrastructure improvement and a dedicated desk for women cross-border traders on the South Sudan side.
EABC Policy and Standards Manager Lamech Wesonga, commended South Sudan for waiving visa fees requirements for East Africans.
He appreciated the cooperation between South Sudan and Uganda in promoting regional trade, urging South Sudan to fully integrate into EAC.
South Sudan joined the East African Community in April 2016.
In 2020 South Sudan’s export to the EAC Partner States amounted to 87 million US Dollars with imports 573 million US Dollars.
While In 2016 South Sudan export and imports to the EAC Partner States were USD 2.6 million and USD 400 million respectively.
Uganda imports from South Sudan amounted to USD.86 million in 2020 while exports 357 million US Dollars.