Be creative, think beyond hotel business, Ethiopian envoy tell S. Sudan investors
The Ethiopians in South Sudan have been told to explore more investment opportunities beyond hotels and housing sectors.
Ethiopian ambassador to South Sudan, Nebil Mahdi, challenged the business community to diversify and venture into other areas like Agro-processing, manufacturing as well as education and health sectors.
This, Mahdi said will help contribute significantly to South Sudan’s economic growth and consolidate existing bilateral ties between the two governments and their citizens.
“Cognizant of enormous prospects in South Sudan, I would like to encourage Ethiopians to get involved more in the existing business and investment opportunities in fields like agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, and construction.”
“As well, I encourage them to consider education, health, and the like as service sectors,” Mahdi said as he addressed the Ethiopian business community.
He was speaking during the Ethiopia -South Sudan Business Discussion Forum that he organised on Thursday.
The forum aimed at encouraging Ethiopian traders across South Sudan to do sound and clean businesses that promote the social and economic well-being of South Sudanese, and the economic development of the country.
The one-day event was attended by senior South Sudan government officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Chamber of Commerce, and Juba City Council.
The first Undersecretary in the Ministry of Trade and Investment, Ocum Genes Karlo, said the refinery was another opportunity sector for the Ethiopian tycoons to invest in to create jobs for South Sudanese.
“We urged the Ethiopian business community to expand their businesses into other areas such as refineries and manufacturing, which could create more employment opportunities.” So, if you evolve into other businesses that create more opportunities in South Sudan, that will be good,” said Mr. Genes.
Mr. Genes assured his ministry’s support to the Ethiopian investors to promote bilateral trade between South Sudan and Ethiopia.
In his part, the Mayor of Juba City Council, Michael Ladu Allajabu said the government remains proud of Ethiopians’ contribution to the liberation movement that earned South Sudan independency in 2011.
“We look at the people of Ethiopia as brothers and sisters to us because we have a long history with Ethiopia …. We will continue to support and offer you space to do business in South Sudan especially in Juba City because we consider you as our sibling brothers and sisters,” said Mayor Allajabu.
