By Bida Elly David
Domestic traders in Juba have this week undergone an in-depth business training and conference organized by responsible business entities to reduce the level of market monopoly and confusion that has been crippling most enterprises in the markets.
The one day drill was organized by the States Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in partnership with the authority of the City Council.
The occasion was attended by the chairperson of South Sudan Chamber of commerce, the Juba city mayor, some Administrative Officers and the Directors of the three blocks representing Juba City Council’s Authorities headed by Mayor Michael Lado Allah-Jabu together with his Deputy for Administration & Finance Fredericko Nyokun Wani.
Juba City Council and the chambers of commerce have been sharing partly some responsibilities regarding management of traders in the markets as well as disputing over tariff segments.
Despite the fact that the two business segments correlate in exercising their tasks and responsibilities, there have been numerous loopholes in the areas of levies and relationship with traders.
The chamber of commerce whose role was to stand on the rights of traders has been in logger head with the city Council over the issue of undogmatic culture of revenue collections from the merchants as well as displacement of many from occupying a space.
Not only that, final consumers who have been at the stage of opportunity cost due to scarcity of resources and uncontrollable inflation recently complained about the market inconsistency being centered on the tyranny of monopolists taking market lead with high prices on goods.
To clear the doubts, the two entities had to organize the conference to settle differences and manifest the roles and duties of traders to consumers and consumers to the authority.
In a statement extended to No.1 Citizen Daily Newspaper yesterday, the conference was conducted to ensure maintenance of intimate relationship between competitive traders operating within the circumference of the Juba city and how they could manifest communal desire to deliver commercial services.
“Juba City Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture has organized a one day Conference for all the traders within the Authorities of Juba City Council in order to help both of them to work in cooperation and collaboration as well as build a strong relationship to deliver best services to all the Citizens of South Sudan in Juba City, under the theme “Good cooperation and collaboration between the authorities of Juba city council and traders will lead to better relationship among stakeholders”.
Furthermore, the Conference discussed the loopholes and the drawbacks facing the traders in the city and how they should reduce competition among themselves to stabilize the market.
The conference also deliberated on the areas of creating common relationship between the consumers and the traders themselves in regard to entrepreneurial services as well as cooperation between the government and business Community to address their challenges.