Business people in Tanzania have been urged to exploit the business opportunities available in South Sudan since 90% of what is used in the country is imported.
The Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture Food Security and Cooperative, Eng. Mbogo Mfutakamba told East African Business Week that there are basic opportunities in a number of key sectors.
Eng Mfutakamba, who was leading a delegation of Tanzanian business people to Juba said among the key sectors which are suitable for investment in Juba include, construction and building, manufacturing, transport and energy, just to mention a few.
He added that since South Sudan imports heavily, they have the opportunity to sell agricultural inputs, energy, setting up industries, factories and hotels.
According Mfutakamba, Tanzania has one local company dealing in agricultural inputs which has acquired a deal to supply fertilizer to the country.
BAJUTA International (T) Ltd, attended the Alliance for Green Revolution Forum (AGRF) in Arusha recently and when they participated in the annual trade fair with a group of 18 farmers and business people, the Southern Sudanese were impressed with its products and they ultimately acquired the deal.
"Food prices in Juba are very high but I can't suggest you do this business. Instead, supply fertilizers because they have a very high potential there," he urged traders
Mr. Mfutakamba said that although there are so many business opportunities in South Sudan, there are still some challenges like the lack of financial institutions that would support financial transactions to Tanzanian traders and the lack of a Tanzanian embassy to represent national interests.
The district commissioner Bahi, Ms Betty Mkwasa, who was part of the delegation to Juba, called upon transport stakeholders both for land and aviation to establish routes from Dar es Salaam to Juba, the capital of Southern Sudan.
The delegation was in Juba at the invitation of the Agriculture Minister, Ms Betty Achan Ogwaro who requested Tanzanian farmers and traders to attend the Annual Trade Fair in Juba to witness the value of their food crops.
Ms Ogwaro told the delegation that most of the crops from Tanzania were sold at higher prices because of their superior quality.
Source :allafrica.com
