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Juba – Al-Wadi Newspaper
The Transport and Logistics Conference in Juba has concluded after discussing a range of issues related to infrastructure development, the promotion of river and road transport, facilitating the movement of trade and investment, and exploring ways to achieve greater integration between South Sudan and East African countries.
The conference presented a number of ambitious ideas and proposals, foremost among them the possibility of developing waterways and establishing a connection between Lake Victoria and the Mediterranean Sea through the Nile River. Such a project could potentially create a new trade corridor for countries in the region, particularly landlocked states.
During his address at the conclusion of the conference, Vice President and Chairperson of the Infrastructure Cluster, Taban Deng Gai, stressed that the transport and logistics sector is one of the fundamental pillars of national development and economic advancement.
He noted that a country’s strength in transport infrastructure and the smooth movement of goods and services directly influence its ability to compete and participate in the global economy.
Taban Deng said Africa would not be able to achieve the position it deserves in the global economy without an integrated transport and logistics network connecting its countries, ports and commercial centres while reducing the cost of moving goods and people.
South Sudan Seeks to Benefit from Neighbouring Countries’ Experiences
The Vice President noted that South Sudan, as a young nation, possesses human resources and capabilities that can contribute to the development process. However, he said the country remains in the early stages of building its institutions as well as its technical and administrative structures.
He disclosed that he had held discussions with the Minister of Energy and Dams on the importance of learning from the experiences of neighbouring countries. He called for delegations and experts to be sent to Kenya and Uganda to study their experiences in governance, infrastructure, energy and transportation.
Regional cooperation, he stressed, should not be limited to trade but should also encompass the exchange of expertise and knowledge.
Taban Deng reaffirmed that South Sudan is part of the East African regional system and can learn from neighbouring countries and draw on their experiences to strengthen and develop its own institutions.
