South Sudan and Sudan signs treaty for the resumption of trade

John Agok

The Director for Custom Service Akol Ayii Madut on Tuesday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Juba to harmonize taxation policies and the movement of goods between the two countries in anticipation of the resumption of trade between the two countries.

The deal was inked by the Department of Customs Director Generals of Sudan and South Sudan in order to provide for knowledge exchange for the management and efficient handling of collected revenues as well as providing for policies and the best practices to regulate and harmonize revenue collection along the borders of the two countries.

Akol Ayii Madut, Director of the customs Services said the Memorandum of Understanding is a prerequisite for the resumption of cross-border trade between the two nations.

“You cannot reopen the border without reaching an agreement with customs that is why we signed (MoU) to harmonize the customs departments of Sudan and South Sudan as priority for reopening the borders”,He itemized.

He added that the two countries agreed on sharing their ideas on the capacity building henceforward the officials will go to Khartoum and Port Sudan for training.   

Meanwhile, Bashir Al-Tahir Bashir, The Director-General of Sudan Customs who signed the document on behalf of Sudan, said that his government is committed to implementing all the provisions of the agreement to boost bilateral trade between the sisterlike countries. 

“This is a historic day for the new beginning of relations between South Sudan and Sudan Customs and is very significant for the economic, political, and security relations between the two countries. We are committed to implementing all the provisions of the agreement urgently to boost trade between us.”He |Settled.