PHOTO CREDIT: Ministry of Trade and Industry, Republic of South Sudan
(JUBA) – The Ministry of Trade and Industry in South Sudan has announced new initiatives to support small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), following a recent official visit to Johannesburg, South Africa by the National Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon Atong Kuol Manyang Juuk.
On Thursday, 31 July 2025, Minister Atong briefed senior management at the Ministry’s headquarters in Juba on the outcomes of her visit, which focused heavily on learning from South Africa’s strategies in boosting SME development. The Minister emphasised the urgent need for South Sudan to address the key challenges facing its own SMEs, particularly limited access to finance.
According to officials at the meeting, access to financial resources remains the largest obstacle for many SMEs in the country. With the majority of small businesses relying on limited capital and informal sources of funding, participants stressed the need for government intervention and private sector collaboration to unlock financing opportunities.
The meeting also examined the digital divide affecting SMEs, citing poor internet connectivity and lack of affordable access to digital tools as key constraints. Participants noted that without reliable digital infrastructure, SMEs struggle to reach markets, access information or manage operations efficiently.
Another major area of concern was climate change and its effects on the SME sector. Recent years have seen both drought and flooding impact agricultural and informal businesses.
Entrepreneurs shared examples of innovative and resilient strategies they have employed to adapt, but these were said to be the exception rather than the rule. Most SMEs remain vulnerable to extreme weather events.
Participants at the meeting agreed that climate resilience must be part of any national strategy to support SMEs. They called for integrated support, including policy development, capacity building, and access to climate smart technology.
As a result of the discussions, the Ministry committed to a series of new actions to strengthen the SME sector:
| Initiative | Description |
|---|---|
| Senior Advisory Body | A new advisory group to guide national SME support policy |
| Global SME School | A training and mentorship platform for entrepreneurs |
| Two Year Roadmap | A timeline for implementing SME programmes and policies |
| Innovation Spaces | Hubs for business incubation and collaboration |
| Knowledge Exchange | Regular forums for learning and best practice sharing |
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