Kiir departs for three-day visit to UAE

JUBA – South Sudan’s President Salva Kiir on Sunday departed Juba for a three-day working visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) aimed at strengthening bilateral ties and attracting investment, his office said.

Speaking to the media following Kiir’s travel, presidential press secretary Lily Adhieu Martin Manyiel, said the head of state would hold talks with Emirati investors interested in South Sudan’s agriculture, mining, and health sectors.

“The visit is in line with ongoing efforts to consolidate relations with Emirati investors, who have an interest in investing in South Sudan’s agricultural, mining and health sectors,” she said in a statement at Juba Airport.

“[The visit) builds on the previous engagements between President Kiir and UAE investors, and it aims to outline the next steps for advancing these partnerships and projects,” she added.

The UAE has in recent years shown increasing interest in South Sudan’s natural resources and development sectors. The visit is expected to focus on finalizing investment agreements and identifying new areas of cooperation, the presidency said.

Juba has been seeking to diversify its economy away from oil dependence by attracting foreign investment into other key sectors.