Western Bahr el-Ghazal announces trade licenses renewal

The government of Western Bahr el Ghazal has announced the renewal of licences for all traders operating in Wau as of January 27, 2022.

This was resolved in a meeting held between area governor Sarah Cleto and the State Chamber of Commerce on Monday.

Alir Akulino, the state secretary-general of the chamber of commerce, told the media that the state has approved the renewal of licenses and trading permits that have been authenticated from within the state.

He said, after a thorough discussion with the governor, that they agreed to start issuing licences on January 27, 2022—an exercise he described as the first of its kind in the state.

The Director-General of the State Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Industry, Gabriel Akol, said the purpose of the meeting was to identify the gaps that hampered operations in previous years and how the gaps would be closed to benefit both traders and consumers.

“We came up with a resolution that will favour everyone,” he said.

Meanwhile, Goch Deng Goch, the deputy mayor of administration and finance, said the ministry of finance had adjusted the agreed licencing rate according to the market price regulations.

“We have approved a fair amount for the renewal of business license considering the situation of our people so that traders also charge affordable prices in the market,” Goch explained.

He urged Wau town traders not to panic and start raising market prices. He added that the small fees imposed for licenses are only a minor requisite put by the government to regulate and provide essential services to the people of the state.

He said the State Ministry of Trade, Commerce, and Industry, in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance and the Chamber of Commerce, has established a bureau of standards in Wau town, which will regulate imported goods into the town under the supervision of the commissioner.

 “The power has been delegated to him (commissioner) to ensure that all imported goods are checked and tested for the safety of the people who will consume them,” Goch.