The Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) has engaged stakeholders in South Sudan to enhance the country’s participation in the continent’s single market and create better opportunities for domestic business entities.
A delegation from the Secretariat, led by Secretary-General H.E. Wamkele Mene, arrived in Juba on July 16. The purpose of the visit was to assess the progress of South Sudan’s full integration into the African Continental Free Trade Area and to discuss with the local business community the opportunities created by the agreement.
South Sudan signed the AfCFTA agreement in 2018, and the East African Community (EAC) tariff schedule has already been gazetted. However, the country has not yet begun implementing the tariff schedule in practice. Accordingly, parliamentary ratification has been identified as the next crucial step to accessing preferential trade opportunities within the continental market.
During the discussions hosted by the Ministry of Trade and Industry, the AfCFTA delegation met with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce, manufacturers, exporters, and women entrepreneurs to discuss practical tools and mechanisms to enable participation in continental trade activities in detail.
The discussions focused on key AfCFTA instruments, such as the e-Tariff Book, rules of origin, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), and the AfCFTA Adjustment Fund. These tools are designed to facilitate easy movement and benefit for business entities within the continental single market.
The Secretariat’s delegation emphasized that South Sudanese business organizations must move beyond importing goods from other African countries and build themselves up as active suppliers within the continental trading system. This visit is part of the AfCFTA Secretariat’s broader efforts to assist member states in implementing the agreement and to increase the participation of businesses, particularly small and medium-sized enterprises, in Africa’s growing trade system.
Currently, the AfCFTA trade area encompasses a massive market of nearly 1.4 billion people. This presents a favorable opportunity with significant potential for countries like South Sudan to expand exports, attract foreign investment, and strengthen economic integration in Africa.
The full ratification of the AfCFTA agreement by South Sudan will go beyond increasing the country’s economic competitiveness; it will enable the nation to keep pace with continental economic growth by reducing trade barriers and streamlining logistics processes. It is known that the Secretariat will continue to work closely with the relevant bodies to ensure better participation in the country’s trade system.
For the success of this process, the use of technology and digital trade platforms will open new horizons for South Sudanese manufacturers and traders. Since the AfCFTA initiative primarily focuses on utilizing Africa’s resources by Africans for mutual benefit, the role South Sudan plays in this is vital for elevating the country’s economy.
Finally, the full implementation of the agreement is expected to have a significant impact not only on trade exchange but also in terms of technology transfer, job creation, and collective economic security. By strengthening its relationship with the AfCFTA, South Sudan has the latent potential to become one of the influential countries on the African trade map in the future.
The efforts South Sudan is making in this trade partnership process will serve as a good experience for other countries on the continent. Ratifying the AfCFTA agreement is a major platform that will enable the country to strengthen its economic integration, establish sustainable trade relationships, and properly utilize its resource base.
