(JUBA) – South Sudan’s National Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk, met on Thursday, 14 August 2025, with the Chinese Ambassador to South Sudan, His Excellency Ma Qiang, to discuss expanding trade and industrial cooperation between the two countries.
The meeting, held in Juba, was also attended by the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, Hon. Ustaz Yel Luol, and a delegation from the Chinese Embassy.
One of the main outcomes was an official invitation from Ambassador Ma for Minister Kuol to attend a conference in China in September 2025. The event will focus on poverty reduction strategies for African countries and will bring together government leaders, policymakers, and trade experts from across the continent.
Minister Kuol thanked the Ambassador for the invitation and for China’s continued support to South Sudan. She reaffirmed her ministry’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, particularly through closer cooperation between the two trade ministries. She outlined several priority areas where South Sudan seeks China’s assistance, including training for staff working with small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), initiatives to create jobs, capacity building programmes, and the development of small-scale industries.
The Minister also proposed an exchange programme for officials, aimed at sharing technical expertise and best practices in trade policy and industry regulation.
Ambassador Ma described the discussions as productive and meaningful, and he reiterated China’s readiness to support South Sudan’s economic growth. He noted that China is willing to help the country export products such as Gum Arabic and fish, and highlighted China’s zero-tariff policy for many African goods.
According to the Ambassador, such policies are designed to give African countries greater access to the Chinese market and to help diversify their economies. Analysts say this could help South Sudan reduce its dependence on oil revenue, which currently accounts for most of the country’s income.
The Ministry of Trade and Industry has indicated that discussions with China will continue in the coming months, with a focus on turning these proposals into concrete agreements that can benefit South Sudan’s economy.
