Home | News    Tuesday 6 September 2011

South Sudan pledges to diversify economic sector to avoid dependency on oil

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By Ngor Arol Garang

August 19, 2011 (JUBA)- The Government of South Sudan (GoSS) on Monday said it would diversify the economic sector in order to move away oil dependency.

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Minister of Energy and Mining of the Republic of South Sudan, Garang Diing Akuong (Gurtong)

Since the then united Sudan began exporting oil in 1999, the agricultural sector has been neglected and production has declined steadily.

High levels of poverty and food insecurity are found throughout South Sudan.

The 2010 UN World Food Programme report says that in South Sudan nine out ten people live on than less a dollar a day and 3.3 million people, more than a third of the population, are moderately or severely food insecure.

The highest levels of poverty are concentrated in the border states of Northern Bahr el Ghazal, Warrap and Unity, according to a 2010 report by the Southern Sudan Center for Census, statistics and Evaluation (SSCCSE) now National Bureaus of Statistics (NBS).

While addressing employees of the ministry during taking of office from his predecessor, Garang Diing Akuong, the former minister of mining and energy, now minister of commerce, industry and investment on Monday explained that South Sudan plans to increase productivity in order expand economic growth and move away from dependency on oil.

“When the global economy was experiencing difficulties before two or three years, the international trade declined because most of the business groups run short of finance. They only returned to the markets when governments from wealthy nations intervened by providing financial aids. This is why the global economy returned to its normality”, explained Akuong.

He warned that foreigners will have undue sway upon South Sudan’s internal affairs if they are the ones controlling markets and that “if you are economically weak you can not be politically strong”.

“By 2015 the oil production will reduce unless exploration and production commences in other blocks like Block B and E, so we need to increase productivity in other sectors like agriculture, trade and supply”, said Akung.

(ST)

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  • 6 September 2011 08:34, by Akumadit

    Garang Diing Akuong need to keeps his mouth shout because we the people of south Sudan are tired of failures. He don’t deserve to minister in any government because he is incapable to deliver service. I know he appointed on tribal representation other than qualification. In my opinion as a citizen of this great nation of south Sudan, all ministers since 2005 from Northern Bar el ghazal have done more damages to Kiir’s administration and the people of South Sudan. What is special about N. Bar el ghazal ministers for Kiir to keep rotating them in all ministries. Garang Diing Akuong, Arthur Akuin Chol, & Kuol Athian are just few to mentioned.

    Akuma.

    repondre message

    • 6 September 2011 08:46, by LongTweng

      Akuma,
      Akuong is newly appointed and no body know yet if he can do good or bad but you seem to judge the whole region as your main argument base on your personal loath on that state. This shows, you are the most tribalist idiot ever born.

      repondre message

      • 6 September 2011 10:05, by Akumadit

        LongTueng,

        Garang Diing Akuong Was former minister of energy & mining. Tell me anything good he left in that Ministry. He corrupted the whole functioning departments in that ministry by putting his family and friends in charge. Brother, be inform that those four mentioned individuals are North Bar el ghazalians and every one that community should be ashamed to be represented by those crooks. I’m not targeting the whole state politicians but only those who care less about the reputation of the state. During the liberation struggle, Northern has contributed enormously in everythings from human sacrafies and logistical support to the SPLM/A. During that time, Northern Bar el ghazal was represented by compatriots such as Lual Diing Wol and many others who dead defending our freedom. If we have to be honest about today politicians from Northern Bar el ghazal, then we have critize them because they lack professional ethics to serve newly born nation. It is very clearly that some southerners hate challenge their fellow tribesmen or women ability to lead.

        Akuma.

        repondre message

    • 6 September 2011 10:41, by jamuse

      Akuma ,
      You are right,Kiir is another stupid because bringing back money lovers is disaster to his administration.Garang know nothing .Kiir would have appoint DR. Lual Achuek Lual who worked for many years in World back leave alone small post of minister in ROSS.Elijah Malok Aleng former Governor of BOSS and Master degree holder in Economic from Swizerrland.ALso DR. William Kon Bior Duot.PH.D holder in bussiness administration and laws.
      Thanks.

      repondre message

      • 6 September 2011 20:27, by Akuma

        What went wrong in your mind? Do you expects Garang Diing Akuong to come at your door and start giving you the food then you believe that he has done his Job.
        What a long distance! I am not blaming you but I just inform you that these men are there to do their jobs and you have nowhere to take them to unless you leave South and go somewhere you dont see them.

        What do you want to be done really? For those who know what to do for the benefit of South Sudan, will take this move in to their consideration and seek assistance from the govt.

        Tractors are there in every county throughout ten states of the country. Are they there for what reason? For you who want boost agricultural sectors.

        If you have enough of land and ready for ploughing but you don’t have resources to cultivate that land, come to your local govt and show them your draft of proposal. I know they will assist you instead of standing behind people and keep through rubbish.

        Akuma.

        repondre message

    • 6 September 2011 15:59, by borian-out

      Mr akuma. I know you loved your country brother, but I also think we need to give this guy a chance to demostrate his God given abilities instead of condeming him before being in his office for a week if not less, quit being selfish, and stay put for your time.
      your countryman

      repondre message

  • 6 September 2011 09:32, by sam Dut

    it wont work because those few businessmen with little money are either sons/daughters of minister or close relatives without knowledge of business.they hold huge money in their pockets just to show off forgetting investment.
    second intellectual property is under attack in South Sudan. you can not make good business proposal in South Sudan. if the minister or undersecretary doesn’t steal it, it will not miss like of Director Generals, Directors to the bottom line.
    thirdly habits of giving money to yourselves(ministers) forgetting empowering the business sector.
    instead of doing all the above, you put this policies in place.
    Diversify economic bases’ output and input distributions. Stakeholders should encourage the movement of labor and capital into productive economic sectors, as well as the development of new knowledge and technology.
    Foster the growth of the external sector by exporting a wide range of high-value-added goods and services internationally.
    Enhance the productivity and competitive levels of the economic base through resources and strategic investments, including enhancing human and financial capital, technology, and knowledge to entrench innovation. Innovation allows economies to create economic value from scratch.
    Use the metrics of economic concentration and diversification, as well as economic sustainability and uncertainty, as targets when determining policy.
    Create clear diversification strategies and mechanisms to mitigate economic volatility and spillover effects, uncertainty, and perturbed business cycle transitions.

    repondre message

  • 6 September 2011 10:02, by Bush

    Let him tell the Dinka to start cultivation and stop dependence on relief aid, oil money and cattle raiding only that we can be strong economically.

    repondre message

    • 6 September 2011 18:16, by borian-out

      Bush, you got it all right. just wondering, if any one from his community who have neither classroom exprience nor leadership abilities been appointed to this office, do you think Akuma would have critize him, I doubt that. akuma stop being narrow minded and start investing in you country.

      repondre message

  • 6 September 2011 10:22, by Akumadit

    Mr. Bushman,

    It seems that you really lack understanding of our societies. Dinka people are well known as postoralists also farmers. They have been feeding themselves & other communities before Jesus time. The message of promoting agriculture should be address to all communities in South Sudan not only Dinka. Garang Diing Akuong must go if progress is needed by government of South Sudan. This man never work anywhere in his life other than when he appointed Minister based on president cabinets tribal representation. Garang used to lived in UK without any professional job but just getting unemployment benefits such as food stamp.

    Akuma

    repondre message

    • 6 September 2011 11:34, by Bush

      @Akumadit

      I understand but some Dinka community never practice what you alleged here and if they do then they should continue to do so for the betterment of our new nation.

      I urge you too to stop this campaign of hatred and jealousy towards Hon. Garang Diing Akoung in his position, let’s give him a chance to prove himself, this is his time and tomorrow will be yours too who knows.

      repondre message

    • 6 September 2011 19:45, by MINDED.DUDE

      Akuma,
      you are consummate and pathological liar.
      when did Dinka know how to cultivate and produce their own food???
      This community is fall into plain and river lake Nilotes.
      They are only depend on meat,blood and cowpat.
      Mr. Bush is right by saying that,minister has to tell Dinka take hoes and go to farms.
      The majority in the Greater Equatoria are familiar with all the farming tools. we knew more about agriculture before anyone in southern sudan or sudan at large.

      repondre message

  • 6 September 2011 19:45, by Nguetbuny de Luelpiny

    Good Ideas to bring people back farming.
    people are getting lazy now than usually..

    People do not eat oil,the cars and machine that needs to run with oil. We should be more concentrated on more Agriculture.

    Build factors

    Nguetbuny

    repondre message

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