STANDARDS BUREAU RECEIVES $1.6M TO FACILITATE TRADE AND SAFETY IN SOUTH SUDAN

Posted on: May 6, 2015

Juba – May5, 2015 – South Sudan continues to strengthen and modernise its national standards bureau which is an integral agency when it comes to consumer protection and streamlining of trade. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed today between TradeMark Africa (TMA) represented by Eugene Torero, TMA SS Country Director and Hon. Dr. Mary Gordon Muortat, Executive Director, South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS). TMA has committed to provide technical support to the SSNBS amounting to US$1.6M funded by the UK government’s Department for International (DFID).

Right to Left - Eugene Torero, TMA SS Country Director and Hon. Dr. Mary Gordon Muortat, Executive Director, South Sudan National Bureau of Standards exchanging the signed MoU documents. — Right to Left – Eugene Torero, TMA SS Country Director and Hon. Dr. Mary Gordon Muortat, Executive Director, South Sudan National Bureau of Standards exchanging the signed MoU documents.

This project aims at assisting the government of South Sudan (GOSS) towards the institutional building of the SSNBS and the capacity building of its staff. It will also support the development of standards in line with the Standards, Quality, Metrology and Testing (SQMT) regulatory framework and further support the revitalisation of standards laboratories in South Sudan. The procurement of priority laboratory equipment is envisaged as a critical aspect in building and strengthening the capacity of the bureau.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Eugene Torero, TMA South Sudan Country Director noted that TMA is keen to support South Sudan participate fully in regional trade through facilitating the standards bureau.

“We are happy to support SSNBS, which is an important trade facilitation agency. As a young nation, SSNBS will play a critical role in developing standards for South Sudan that are in line with EAC standards through the SQMT framework. As part of the support, SSNBS will also receive state of the art laboratory equipment to aid in streamlining trade, cutting the cost of doing business and bringing down costs to consumers”

Hon. Dr. Mary Gordon Muortat, Executive Director, South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS) was excited about the new partnership adding:

“We are grateful to the support we are receiving from development partners, and in particular, TMA to support SSNBS. We are building from ground zero; enhancing the capacity of our staff and getting new equipment to ensure we are ready to support South Sudan participate fully in trade but also ensure we do not get sub standards goods dumped in our country. It’s a long journey ahead but we shall succeed.”

Further support will be provided in training staff in food safety and standards development and technical regulations. Moreover, the support will be provided to build collaborative engagements in peer to peer learning programmes with sister organisations within the East African Community (EAC) in the implementation of SQMT as well as mutual recognition of products certification and enhancing regional integration and trade.

The SSNBS programme is not confined to imports. It has started a programme of visits to retail outlets, bakeries and bottled water companies to set and maintain standards and get consumers used to getting the best products.

Source: TradeMark Africa

TradeMark Africa (TMA) is an aid-for-trade organisation that was established with the aim of growing prosperity in East Africa through increased trade. TradeMark Africa (TMA) operates on a not-for-profit basis and is funded by the development agencies of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, UK, and USA. TradeMark Africa (TMA) works closely with East African Community (EAC) institutions, national governments, the private sector and civil society organisations.