Kenyan traders tap into booming south Sudan market

Juba may not strike you as modern city as it lacks the lustre of a fast-paced urban life has neither skyscrapers nor a decent physical infrastructure.

But as it emerges out of 21 years of civil unrest, the capital city of Southern Sudan is on a steady path towards regaining its glory.

After the warring parties in the north and south signed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) in 2005 and the consequent reopening of Juba-Yei road in 2006, savvy entrepreneurs from the East and Central African region began to stream steadily into the south of Sudan.

Today they can be found in trading centres scattered all over the region.

You come across Kenyan and Ugandan traders in Juba as well as other markets such as Konyokonyo, Gumbo, Rujal-mafi, Hai Game, and Hai Gabat.

Business is brisk and there’s a wide range of products and services on offer and the region is replete with hardware stores, vegetable kiosks, salons, hotels, electronic shops retailers of fast moving consumer goods.

Juba has become a significant market for a variety of imported goods.

That is why southern Sudan has become the new hunting ground for business in the region, attracting not only small and medium enterprises but South Sudan is the new hunting ground for not only attracting small and for large corporations with operations in the region as well, as they seek to increase their geographical reach and make inroads into what appears to be lucrative emerging market.

Kenya’s Cooperative Bank is the latest entrant into the fray.

Other financial institutions that have pitched tent here are UAP Insurance, Kenya Commercial Bank and Equity Bank.

The battle for Juba is fiercer in the aviation industry, with intense competition underway for control of the Juba-Nairobi route.

Marsland Aviation launched a much larger aircraft than has customarily been used on the route with a capacity of 111 passengers.

It is scheduled to make two flights a week.

ALS Also launched its maiden flight to Juba on a 34-seater aircraft on Monday this week, joining Jetlink, Marsland Aviation, East African Safaris and African Express Airways which already ply this route.

“Humanitarian efforts are our major clients. Most of them have ceased operating in Lokichoggio since the peace accord, instead setting base in Juba, and prompting us to now start operations on this route,” said Sharzia Taher, ALS scheduled services supervisor.