Manufacturers call for reforms in trade regulatory laws

The South Sudan manufacturers’ Association has called on the government to realign the existing trade legal framework within standards of the East African Community.

This was revealed on Monday by Kennedy Kenyi Lodiong, the secretary general for South Sudan manufacturers’ association during the launch of the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study Report Update in Juba.

“We as manufacturers are requesting for transparency in business laws and compliance with regional and international standards, there are a lot of promising opportunities in the manufacturing sector, we have raw materials and labor,” Lodiong told journalists.

Lodiong called on government institutions to involve the private sector during policy making processes.

“You find that some of the policies do not promote local and foreign investments in the country,” he said.

Lodiong revealed lack of electricity remains among the major hindrances to manufacturers’ in the country.

 “The key challenges are power and road accessibility, power is key not only for manufacturing sector but it cuts across all sectors, we have a lot of youth who are unemployed but if we have manufacturers we will be able to take youth and give them jobs,” he said.