South Sudan Promotes Export Readiness at Standards Meeting in Rwanda

(KIGALI) – South Sudan is taking part in the 2025 International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Annual Meeting, which opened on Monday, 6 October 2025, in Kigali, Rwanda. The gathering brings together business leaders, policymakers, and innovators from around the world to discuss how global standards can support sustainable trade, industrial growth, and digital transformation.

The meeting, hosted by the Rwanda Standards Board, is being held under the theme “United for Impact.” South Sudan’s delegation is led by Hon. Gloria Nyoka Joseph, Executive Director of the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS). She is joined by officials and technical experts focused on improving the country’s trade and industrial standards to align with regional and international benchmarks.

The ISO meeting offers South Sudan an opportunity to strengthen its engagement in global trade discussions and learn from countries that have successfully used standards to drive economic growth and attract investment. As a young nation working to diversify its economy, South Sudan’s participation is seen as an important step towards improving the quality and competitiveness of its goods and services.

Key discussions during the week-long meeting include sustainable trade, responsible use of artificial intelligence, digital transformation, youth leadership in agriculture, clean energy, and biodiversity as a business priority. Experts will explore how international standards can build trust in trade, promote fair competition, and support environmentally friendly industries.

Speaking in Kigali, Hon. Gloria Nyoka Joseph said South Sudan is committed to adopting international best practices that promote quality assurance and consumer protection. She added that standardisation plays a key role in improving trade, manufacturing, and export competitiveness.

The Executive Director said building a strong standards system would help South Sudanese businesses access wider regional and global markets. “Our goal is to ensure that goods and services produced in South Sudan meet international quality and safety standards,” she said.

Participation in global standards events like ISO also allows South Sudan to share its experiences and challenges in building regulatory frameworks that can support national development. Strengthening the standards system is a key element of South Sudan’s trade reform agenda aimed at improving the business environment, supporting private sector growth, and ensuring consumer safety.

The ISO Annual Meeting serves as the main platform for the world’s national standards bodies to exchange ideas and develop joint strategies that support international cooperation in trade, innovation, and sustainability.

For South Sudan, this engagement helps bridge the gap between domestic industry practices and international requirements, paving the way for greater participation in regional markets such as the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The event, which runs from 6 to 10 October 2025, is expected to close with joint commitments to strengthen global collaboration on standardisation, quality infrastructure, and sustainable business practices.

Gloria Nyoka Leads South Sudan Delegation to ISO Summit