JUBA — Central Equatoria State’s Juba County Commissioner Kalisto Lado Foustino has directed foreign traders to leave small-scale retail businesses to South Sudanese, urging them instead to invest in wholesale trade, factories and other larger businesses.
Lado issued the directive on Monday evening while addressing traders at Kuburi Aboba in Gudele Two, Juba County.
“Any foreigner must not be a retail trader in Juba County. No foreigner should do small business,” Lado said. “You cannot leave your country to come and make chapati, retail kilos of onions and tomatoes. What will our women in South Sudan sell?”
He also questioned foreign involvement in businesses such as charcoal sales and motorcycle taxi operations.
“A foreigner coming to sell charcoal, what then will a South Sudanese do? A foreigner want to do boda boda in Juba. What will our youth in Juba do?” he asked.
Lado said foreign nationals would remain welcome to invest in South Sudan, but urged them to focus on businesses that create opportunities for South Sudanese.
“To all Somalians, Ethiopians, Eritreans, Kenyan, Ugandans and all other nationals. We welcome you, we will give your security and have you stay without discrimination, but the retail business is only for South Sudanese,” he said.
He urged foreign traders to establish wholesale businesses from which South Sudanese could buy goods for retail, while encouraging foreign investors to open factories and employ South Sudanese.
“Open factories and employ South Sudanese but you cannot leave your country to come and squeeze and compete with South Sudanese in retails business,” Ladu said.
South Sudan’s Investment Promotion Act gives national investors priority in several areas, including retail commerce, with the stated aim of supporting local businesses, employment and business opportunities for South Sudanese.
Juba is South Sudan’s capital and main commercial hub, where local and foreign traders operate businesses across the city.
