South Sudan, UNDP start training trade officials on economic diplomacy

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in partnership with South Sudan’s national ministry of trade and industry on Tuesday commenced three-day training of staff in the ministry on commercial and economic diplomacy.

Titus Osundina, the Deputy Resident Representative for the UNDP, said the training is aimed at fulfilling their commitment to strengthening the capacity of key trade institutions and to leverage opportunities brought by market access and global integration.

The training attended by 28 officials from the ministry of trade and industry at Regency hotel in Juba is being conducted by the Trade Policy Training Centre in East Africa (TRAPCA) with funding from Enhanced Integrated Framework (EIF).

Mary Akech, the first undersecretary for the national ministry of trade and industry, said the training will increase export and foreign investment to support the national economic diversification agenda.

She said trade officials will understand South Sudan’s domestic policy on trade and be able to utilize it to meet regional and international commitments.

 “South Sudan has huge human capital that can contribute to investment and national economic development. The realization of our development aspirations requires regional and global engagement that contributes to sustainable development,” Akech said.