Major Investment Approved for Cement and Steel Production in Kajo-Keji

(JUBA) – The Government of Central Equatoria State has approved a proposal worth 560 million US dollars (about 3.976 trillion South Sudanese Pounds) from Global Trading Commodities Group to set up a cement and steel rebar industry in Kajo Keji County.

The approval was made during an extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting held on Friday. The meeting was chaired by the Governor of Central Equatoria State, Lt Gen Rabi Mujung Emmanuel. The proposal was presented by Stephen Lado Onesimo, the State Minister of Trade and Industry.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Patrick Nyarsuk, the Minister of Information and Communication, said GTC is an international company involved in mining, large infrastructure projects, investment and project financing. He said the firm plans to build cement and steel rebar plants that will be the first of their kind in the country.

He said the factory is expected to produce 300 metric tonnes a day, equal to one million metric tonnes a year. He described the plan as a historic step towards large scale cement production in South Sudan.

The cabinet instructed the Ministry of Trade and Industry to make sure GTC carries out corporate social responsibility activities. These include building the Juba to Kajo Keji road, repairing roads inside the county and setting up both fixed and mobile health centres.

Nyarsuk said the Ministry of Trade and Industry will work with the Ministry of Industry and Investment and the Ministry of Mining at the national level to make sure the project meets standards and is implemented on time.

He said the State Government welcomes both foreign and local investors and is working to create a good environment for business and development across Central Equatoria.