Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises are the backbone of regional economic development, says South Sudan Vice President
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 28th October, 2024: The Vice President of the Republic of South Sudan for the Economic Cluster, H.E. Dr. James Wani Igga, has said that the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) are the backbone of economic growth in East Africa and the key to inclusivity in wealth creation.
Speaking during the official opening of the 24th EAC MSMEs trade fair in Juba, South Sudan, the Vice President underscored the critical role that MSMEs play in driving economic growth by creating jobs and fostering innovation.
“It is worthy to emphasise the importance of trade fairs and exhibitions like this one in creating opportunity for exhibitors to showcase their product, access new market and form cross border partnerships,” said the Vice President.
H.E. Igga called upon all the Partner States to formulate policies that facilitate free trade, free investment and free movement of goods and people across the borders with single objective of realisation of the vision of the Community.
The Vice President stressed the importance of increasing efforts to unlock the transformative potential of MSMEs by connecting them to the opportunities available under the single African Market facilitated by free movement of persons, goods, services and investment across national borders.
VP Igga reaffirmed South Sudan’s commitment to implementing policies that support MSMEs.
“This includes improving infrastructure, and technology resources, ensuring that businesses can grow and compete both locally and internationally,” he said.
The Vice President said that the objective of MSMEs is to show how the collective expo can build an integrating regional economy that can compete in the continent as well as globally.
On her part, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, Ms. Annette Ssemuwemba, said that the 24th MSMEs Forum is more than an exhibition but an opportunity for small and medium scale traders to shine, connect and grow from local artisans to tech-savvy innovators.
“Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in the economic development of East African countries, accounting for 90% of businesses and 80% of employment especially among youth and women and are becoming hubs of innovation,” said Ms. Ssemuwemba.
Ms. Ssemuwemba said that as the EAC celebrates 25 years of existence, the MSMEs trade fair is one significant milestone that the EAC has achieved.
“I am informed that the registered number at this year’s trade fair business persons is standing at 1,500. This being the first time Juba is hosting such event with such large numbers and participation of all eight Partner States demonstrates the strengthening of EAC integration,” added Ms. Ssemuwemba.
The Deputy Secretary General committed the readiness of the EAC Secretariat to continue creating an enabling environment by supporting the application of the provisions of the Common Market Protocol, maximising the use of the Customs Union Protocol and implementation of trade facilitation programmes including the Simplified Trade Regime, the One Stop Border Posts, EAC Mobile NTB Elimination Application, E-commerce, harmonization of Standards and even ease of crossing borders using national identity cards to support the MSMEs.
Also present at the official opening of the trade fair were: Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development; Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for EAC, ASALs and Regional Development; Amb. Joseph Majak, South Sudan’s Minister of Trade and Industry; and Hon. Mr. Gervais Abayeho, Burundi Minister of EAC Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture.
For more information and details on the trade fair, please visit: www.eac.int/juakali
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka
Senior Public Relations Officer
Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 768 552087
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of eight (8) Partner States, comprising the Republic of Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, the Republic of Kenya, the Republic of Rwanda, the Federal Republic of Somalia, the Republic of South Sudan, the Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. The Federal Republic of Somalia was admitted into the EAC bloc by the Summit of EAC Heads of State on 24th November, 2023 and became a full member on 4th March, 2024.
Tags: #JuaKali