In a bid to increase young people and women’s participation in economic activity and more provide jobs to citizens, the European Union has invested €4.8 million to supports developing fruit and vegetable value chains in South Sudan.
The European Union funded this project to increase the competitiveness of micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the sector.
Speaking at the occasion, The First Undersecretary for Trade and Industry, Agak Achuil said “this project is one among many other important projects that benefited from EU funding in the country and the Ministry will do all that is possible within its jurisdiction to ensure a successful implementation of the project.”
Ambassador of the European Delegation to South Sudan, Christian Bader expressed his happiness to launch the project in very timely manner.
Badder said the “investment in modern agriculture could contribute significantly to poverty alleviation and food security, and boost income and jobs generation in a moment where once again the people of South Sudan is facing a possible famine crisis.”
ITC Director of Country Programs, Ashish Shah, said he is honored to provide technical support to the government and private sector where the need for economic and trade development is felt the most.
Shah stated that the “ITC will deliver the needed support to enable MSMEs to develop their operational capacities and business performance, to provide employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for youth and women as well as improve capacities of business development services.”
Reacting to the level of development this project will positively bring to the country, The Executive Director of the South Sudan National Bureau of Standards, Mary Gordon Muortat, said the project provides an opportunity to improve the quality and food safety compliance capacities both at the level of institutions and operators along with the fruits and vegetable value chains.
Gordon added that the project will train advisers on Quality and food Safety and assist MSMEs in the fruits and vegetable value chains for compliance with market-relevant standards.”
