Rwanda eyes South Sudan produce market
4 min readKIGALI, RWANDA — Rwanda has completed comprehensive studies on South Sudan’s agriculture sector in a bid to export its vegetables, roots, and tubers in Juba, the capital city of the newest nation in the world.
This is the second study conducted on the regional produce markets by the Land Husbandry Water project (LWH) under Rwanda’s Agriculture Ministry. The first study was done three months ago on DR Congo’s potential for Rwandan exports especially vegetables.
Mr. Hashim Mulangwa, one of the consultants assigned to carry out research on potential of South Sudan market for Rwanda, told agriculture experts and traders while presenting their findings , that there are both opportunities and challenges in the Juba market.
He added that Rwanda does not have the advantage of proximity as Uganda and Kenya to South Sudan and that the country can benefit if they focus on quality of their produce.
Mulangwa said Ugandans today dominate the produce market in South Sudan but that the demand still exists and there is a gap that Rwandans can fill.
Mr. Leonard Mungarulire, a consultant with Ntareinsights, a Rwandan based group said despite several risks of doing business in South Sudan, Rwandans should look out for opportunities.
“What we need is to focus on quality of our produce, which does not take rocket science to tell our farmers to adhere to it if we are to get leverage in the market,” Mungarulire explained.
The consultants said that all challenges of trade between Rwanda and South Sudan such as lack of storage facilities, ware houses in the new country and several check points especially between Nimule and Juba(148km) can be solved through high level negotiations within the East Africa Community (EAC).
The biggest headache for traders is the time it takes one to move between Nimule and Juba. The 148 kilometres journey takes eight hours.
http://www.busiweek.com/11/opportunities/1870-rwanda-eyes-south-sudan-produce-market
Tanzania eyes South Sudan, Comoros
DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA – Tanzania investors who have been traditionally inward looking are now set to venture outside their boarders by investing in new country of Southern Sudan and Comoro islands.
A ten-man task force is expected to travel to newest sovereignty state, South Sudan and the third-smallest African nation by area, Comoro, early next month to identify various investment opportunities which Tanzanians can grab.
The chairperson of the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), Ms. Esther Mkwizu told The East African Business Week, that her foundation was looking for investment opportunities beyond the borders especially in the Eastern Africa.
“We need to penetrate the market more systematically and follow all procedures to ensure that investments by Tanzanian investors are protected and stay safe as well,” said Ms Mkwizu
She added that TPSF had written to the Prime Minister to seek permission for the business delegation to enter South Sudan and conduct both diplomatic and business meetings with their local counterparts.
She said that the mission is expected to come with a report that will provide a clear picture on the business opportunities and various challenges.
According to Ms Mkwizu, Tanzania’s exports to the rest of the East African Community (EAC) countries were making outstanding performances.
Due to this, she added, South Sudan and Comoro could offer new markets and investment opportunities for the business community.
The Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industry and Trade (TCCIA) chairperson, Aloyce Mwamanga, was quoted recently expressing concern over the private sector’s sluggishness in grabbing new opportunities in South Sudan and Comoro.
Tanzania exports to the EAC nearly doubled to US$450 million in 2010 from $263 million recorded in 2009.
“This is almost 71 per cent increase,” she said. The exports were mainly mosquito nets, domestic utensils and transformers. Others are mattresses, rice, cement, plastic products, paper products and machinery.
http://www.busiweek.com/11/news/tanzania/1859-tanzania-eyes-south-sudan-comoros
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