Uganda and South Sudan have renewed efforts to strengthen bilateral trade and address longstanding challenges affecting cross-border commerce between the two neighboring countries.
The commitment was made on the sidelines of the 48th Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (SCTIFI) meeting in Arusha, where Uganda’s delegation held high-level discussions with South Sudanese counterparts.
Uganda’s team was led by Lynette Bagonza, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, alongside Edith Mwanje, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of East African Community Affairs (MEACA), and Richard Kabonero, Head of the Regional Economic Cooperation Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The delegation met with South Sudan’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Labanya Margaret Mathya Ugila, and Minister of East African Community Affairs, Pieng Deng Kuol.
Also in attendance was Moun Deng Ajuet, alongside technical officials from both countries.
During the meeting, the two sides reviewed bilateral issues affecting trade flows across the Uganda–South Sudan border, including matters requiring coordinated government action. The officials agreed to fast-track preparations for the next Joint Permanent Commission (JPC), which Uganda is expected to host.
The JPC is expected to provide a platform for addressing outstanding trade, customs, transport and investment issues that continue to affect business communities operating between the two countries.
South Sudan remains one of Uganda’s most important regional export markets, with thousands of traders relying on the corridor for the movement of goods ranging from manufactured products to agricultural commodities.
Strengthening cooperation through the JPC is expected to improve trade facilitation, reduce non-tariff barriers and deepen economic integration between the two East African Community partner states.
