South Sudan and Kenya Plan Joint Business Forum and Private Sector Integration

(NAIROBI) – South Sudan and Kenya have taken steps to strengthen their trade and investment relationship following a high level meeting in Nairobi between the Embassy of South Sudan and the leadership of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI).

On 30 July 2025, South Sudan’s Ambassador to Kenya, Anthony Kon, visited Dr Erick Rutto, President of KNCCI and Chair of the ICGLR Private Sector Forum, to discuss ways to promote deeper commercial cooperation. The meeting was also attended by key trade officials from both sides, including embassy representatives and senior KNCCI officials.

Ambassador Kon described Kenya as a vital regional ally and an economic gateway to South Sudan. He highlighted the importance of integrating South Sudanese businesses into Kenya’s formal economy and supporting local entrepreneurs through inclusive regional trade systems like the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

During the meeting, both sides acknowledged long standing economic and social ties between the two nations. Dr Rutto noted that cities such as Nairobi, Nakuru, and Eldoret are already home to many South Sudanese residents, whom he referred to as “family” in the business landscape. He expressed KNCCI’s willingness to support South Sudanese entrepreneurs operating in Kenya and expand bilateral cooperation.

Kon outlined South Sudan’s recent economic reforms, including measures to simplify cross border trade, improve transparency, and provide legal protections for foreign investors. He urged Kenyan businesses to explore investment opportunities in agriculture, logistics, mining, telecommunications and retail, highlighting South Sudan’s abundant natural resources and growing consumer base.

Dr Rutto welcomed the call for deeper engagement and said awareness of South Sudan’s trade potential must be improved. He also pointed out long standing challenges such as border delays, poor infrastructure and limited logistics capacity, particularly at key crossings like Lokichoggio–Nadapal.

A key proposal from the meeting was to establish a unified South Sudan Chamber of Commerce in Kenya, to formally support and represent South Sudanese business owners operating in the country. Both sides also proposed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between KNCCI and the South Sudan Chamber of Commerce, followed by a joint business forum in Nairobi.

The embassy and KNCCI further agreed to facilitate a future visit by Kenyan business leaders to Juba in 2026, and proposed collaboration in the health sector, including establishing a joint Pharmacy and Poisons Board to support regulatory alignment between the two countries.

Key outcomes from the meeting included the following: