With unemployment at more than 50%, South Sudan needs to create more jobs. Growing trade in fruits and vegetables is one way that entrepreneurs, especially women and young people, can earn a better living.

That’s what more than 100 people discussed at the Symposium on Job Creation and Trade in South Sudan on 18 April in Juba.

Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, Minister of Investment, said the country is working on policies that encourage business and government to work together to promote trade. Significant investment is needed to tackle major challenges like limited electricity, lack of infrastructure and an unsteady security environment.

The International Trade Centre (ITC) has made strides in supporting small businesses to create better jobs and develop international trade.

The symposium provided an opportunity to showcase the results of the ITC Jobs Creation and Trade Development Project so far:

more than 3,000 producers and traders of fruits and vegetables received training that included climate-smart farming, food safety and quality, and cooperative management
22 producer cooperatives were established, with seven formally registered
Food Safety Association of South Sudan was established and launched.
National Quality Policy of South Sudan was written
1,205 young people and women (70% female) received training in business management and entrepreneurship.

The project’s work has improved production and trading of fruits and vegetables, creating job opportunities for South Sudanese. The project also enhances domestic trade for fruits and vegetables, by holding trade fairs and fostering business contacts.

The Symposium drew participants from the Ministry Trade and Industry, the Ministry of Investment, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, and the South Sudan National bureau of Standards.

Among those in attendance were Kuol Daniel Ayulo, Under-secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry; Lothar Jaschke, Deputy Head of the European Union Delegation; and Aklile Habtemariam, ITC Country Manager for South Sudan. He gave opening remarks, followed by a keynote speech by Dhieu Mathok Diing Wol, Minister of Investment.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Trade Centre.

On 30 April 2024, Mr. Thanabordee Joothong, Charge d’affaires a.i., witnessed the signing ceremony of the usufruct contract between Hi-Tech Apparel Co. Ltd. and the Suez Canal Economic Zone (SCZONE) represented by Mr. Wason Vitanakorn, Chief Executive Officer of Hi-Tech Apparel Co., Ltd. and Mr. Walid Gamal El-Din, Chairman of SCZONE, respectively. The said contract would allow the establishment of a sportswear factory in the West Qantara Industrial Zone in Ismalia in the near future.

Hi-Tech Apparel Co. Ltd. is a world-class leader in garment manufacturing and would consider to be the first Thai manufacturing company ever to invest and set up a factory in Egypt. The investment is expected to be around 20 million USD and create more than 1,500 jobs.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Royal Thai Embassy, Cairo, Egypt.

On the occasion of Labor Day, I extend deepest appreciation and recognition to all Egyptian workers on Labor Day. Those esteemed men who pledged to build our beloved homeland and fulfilled their promise. You have dedicated your utmost efforts to the advancement of our modern, contemporary state. Today is a symbol of devotion and unwavering commitment to work. With every passing year may Allah the Almighty grant you enduring health and well-being.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Presidency of the Arab Republic of Egypt.

The two-day dialogue that took place at the Asmara Palace Hotel, organized by the Ministry of Justice under the theme “Values and Justice,” aimed at integrating Eritrean values with the legal framework, has concluded.

The focus of the dialogue was to discuss on domestic, regional, and global experiences and to provide careful consideration for the seamless integration of these values into the country’s legal framework. This is part of the Ministry of Justice’s legal reforms for sustainable development.

At the forum, extensive discussions were conducted on the processes to reform and improve Eritrea’s legal system in terms of sustainable development, national values that could support the improvement of the country’s legal system, and characteristics identified during the armed struggle for independence. Discussions also covered African values and future prospects, Eritrean values in terms of African values and justice, as well as reflecting national values in the Eritrean legal framework for sustainable development.

The participants adopted various recommendations, including the timely implementation of the integration of national values into the legal framework, reinforced human and resources development, adaptation of international law to the objective situation and values of the country, and ensuring the legal framework takes into account the national interest.

The dialogue on the integration of national values into the legal framework, the first of its kind, was attended by experts and invited guests from Senegal, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, Nicaragua, Italy, and France.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Information, Eritrea.