Central Equatoria Business Union, Zimbabwe Discuss Industrial Cooperation

(JUBA) – The Zimbabwean Ambassador to South Sudan, His Excellency Kossam Mupezeni, met with the leadership of the Central Equatoria Business Union (CEBU) on Monday 7 July 2025, in Juba. The meeting focused on exploring strategic areas for bilateral trade and investment cooperation.

The high level discussions brought together key members of CEBU, including Chairman Mr. Juma Khamis Juma, Deputy Chairperson Mr. Emmanuel Longuo, Expo Manager Mr. Ring Ring Angok, Partnership Manager Mr. Talib Juma and Information Management Manager Mr. Sworo Simaya Kenyi. The group engaged in talks aimed at creating stronger business links and knowledge sharing between the two countries.

Ambassador Mupezeni emphasised Zimbabwe’s strong record in commercial agriculture, particularly in livestock farming and the export of key commodities such as beef, eggs, pork, maize, wheat, tobacco, cereals, cotton, bananas and cashew nuts.

He noted that value addition in agriculture is a significant part of Zimbabwe’s success, with products like meat and tobacco processed locally before export, helping grow employment and support the national economy. Zimbabwe currently achieves around 40% value addition in its tobacco industry alone, with much of its produce reaching European markets.

Beyond agriculture, the ambassador also pointed to Zimbabwe’s strengths in manufacturing, mining, tourism and education. He stressed the importance of investing in vocational and technical institutions to support capacity building in South Sudan through training and skills exchange programmes.

CEBU Chairman Mr. Juma Khamis Juma welcomed the ambassador’s visit, expressing strong interest in learning from Zimbabwe’s economic experience. He said closer business ties could allow the two nations to develop new ventures and broaden investment opportunities.

Deputy Chair Mr. Emmanuel Longuo highlighted that more than 70% of South Sudan’s land is arable, yet much remains underutilised. He said Zimbabwe’s experience in agricultural production and management offers valuable lessons for transforming South Sudan’s farming sector.

Expo Manager Mr. Ring Ring Angok explained that South Sudan’s agriculture is largely traditional and small scale. He called for support in shifting towards large-scale and industrial farming, which would improve food security and economic output.

Partnership Manager Mr. Talib Juma suggested building structured frameworks to link South Sudanese and Zimbabwean businesses. He said the Zimbabwean Embassy could help facilitate these connections, enabling investors from both countries to explore joint ventures and market access.

The meeting concluded with a commitment to organise reciprocal visits between business leaders from South Sudan and Zimbabwe.

Focus Areas in South Sudan–Zimbabwe Business Talks