(NAIROBI) – Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in South Sudan have called on the government to simplify product certification and reduce associated costs, citing high fees that restrict production and access to markets.
Enterprise owners speaking at the 25th East African Community (EAC) MSME Trade Fair said the multiple charges required to obtain the national standards mark are limiting growth for many small businesses.
“Certification is very tedious and very expensive,” said one trader attending the fair.
The high cost has prevented many MSMEs from obtaining the standards mark, denying them access to wider markets and the opportunity to scale.
Naima Samson, Director for Certification and Exports at the National Bureau of Standards, said, “Because there is a fee for the application form, a fee for audits and a fee for the S Mark, some MSMEs will disappear because they lack capital to invest, especially when testing for compliance. Some fees alone can exceed $10,000 (SSP 71 million) for a single product line.”
Data from the Observatory of Economics Complexity (OEC) shows South Sudan exports totalled $701 million (SSP 5 trillion) in 2023, compared with imports valued at $1.62 billion (SSP 11.5 trillion). Analysts say easing certification costs could improve export competitiveness.
Traders also raised concerns over the centralisation of standards bureau services in Juba City. “Sometimes they need to facilitate auditors coming from the city to where we are,” said Samson.
During South Sudan Day at the fair, Deputy Head of Mission in Kenya, Aida Eriminio Wande, said EAC member states are keen to expand trade in processed goods.
“Our presence here is a powerful declaration. It shows South Sudan is open for business, a nation rich in resources, with resilience and ambitions,” Wande said.
She added that MSMEs are “the lifeblood of our economy and the engine of our innovation. They are farmers processing organic honey and artisans crafting leather goods.”
Wande also emphasised that South Sudan is ready to attract investments that will support economic growth through agro-processing and value addition.
This year’s trade fair, which brought together 3,000 MSMEs from the eight EAC member states, featured at least 34 small enterprises from South Sudan.
Traders Ask Government to Simplify Product Certification
| Key Issue | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Concern | High certification fees stifle MSME growth |
| Cost Example | Compliance fees can exceed $10,000 (SSP 71 million) per product |
| Export Data 2023 | $701 million (SSP 5 trillion) |
| Import Data 2023 | $1.62 billion (SSP 11.5 trillion) |
| Certification Location | Centralised in Juba City |
| MSME Representation | 34 South Sudan enterprises at EAC Trade Fair |
| Fair Attendance | 3,000 MSMEs from 8 EAC states |
| Government Call | Streamline certification, reduce fees |
| Investment Focus | Agro-processing and value addition |