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Juba: Al-Naeem Mubarak Kol
The Minister of Finance and Planning, Dr. Marial Dongrin Ater, addressed the 8th Governors’ Forum chaired by the First Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar Teny, in the presence of Ministers of the Transitional Government of National Unity, State Governors, Chief Administrators, and other senior government officials at Freedom Hall in Juba.
In his speech, Minister Dongrin highlighted the multiple shocks obstructing economic stability, stating, “The 2012 oil production shutdown due to post-independence disputes with Sudan led to severe economic contraction. This was further compounded by internal conflicts in 2013 and 2016, and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic.”
He also referred to recent crises, saying, “Devastating floods linked to climate change have damaged infrastructure and reduced agricultural output. Additionally, the ongoing conflict in Sudan has caused an influx of refugees and returnees while disrupting oil infrastructure.”
The Minister described these shocks as “factors that have exacerbated economic slowdown, weakened the exchange rate, driven inflation, and increased fiscal pressures amidst declining revenues.”
Dr. Dongrin affirmed his Ministry’s commitment to restoring macroeconomic stability by encouraging investment in agriculture and mining within the 2024/2025 fiscal year budget, aiming to diversify the economy and reduce reliance on the oil sector.
The Minister emphasized his priority of ensuring timely financial transfers to subnational levels of government to empower the health and education sectors at the grassroots level, thereby improving citizens’ well-being and laying the groundwork for long-term development.
Minister Dongrin called for the consolidation of peace and socio-economic stability, noting, “A truly peaceful society is one where citizens have equitable access to jobs, education, healthcare, and essential services, thereby reducing the likelihood of violence and mitigating factors that fuel social unrest.”
He underscored that achieving this vision requires implementing the peace agreement and addressing the root causes of conflicts to ensure a peaceful environment conducive to investment and economic growth.
Regarding revenue mobilization, the Minister urged Governors and Chief Administrators in the ten states and three administrative areas to reduce the proliferation of checkpoints within and around their jurisdictions to lower business costs and encourage the establishment of a “one-stop-shop” to streamline the tax system.
The Minister proposed regulating individual medical claims and financial aid, limiting the purchase of luxury vehicles for government use, suspending all unbudgeted hiring and promotions of public servants, and curtailing unregulated foreign travels by government officials.
Finally, Dr. Dongrin addressed all the questions raised during the 8th Governors’ Forum, reaffirming his commitment to strengthening legal and policy frameworks defining the roles, responsibilities, and revenue-sharing mechanisms among national, state, and county levels.
