By Wiliam Madouk
South Sudan’s ministerial economic cluster has approved 738,264,150.94 million US dollars for construction of a proposed cross-border highway connecting Upper Nile State to neighboring Ethiopia.
The cluster, on Thursday approved the proposal presentenced by minister of finance and planning, Bak Barnaba Chol in a meeting presided over by Vice President for the cluster, Dr. James Wani Igga.
“The Cluster passed an amount of USD only 738,264,150.94 for construction of highway from Paloch, Mathiang, Maiwut, Pagak to Federal Republic of Ethiopia,” partly reads statement from Wani Igga’s office.
According to the government, the road shall improve security, trade, agricultural development and connectivity of both nations.
The economic Cluster also passed Agriculture and Food Security Strategic Policy presented by Josephine Lagu, Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.
On Wednesday, Minister of Finance, Dr. Bak Barnaba told the media that construction of road at asphalt level was on progress.
“In regard to the road to Western Ethiopia, we are at the final stage of completing the process and the amount is above 700 million US dollars funded by the Ethiopian government,” Bak said.
“That road has been on progress, so far I think we are at asphalt level,” he added.
In May this year, South Sudan and Ethiopia signed the agreement. The former Finance Minister Dier Tong Ngor, and his counterpart, the Ethiopian minister of finance, Eyob Tekalign signed the deal.
The project aims to correct the artificial border separation, thereby improving regional cooperation with an expectation to strengthen East African trade while reducing the costs of doing business.
Tekalign termed the signing as a significant and momentous development in improving commercial and connectivity between the two states.
President Salva Kiir Mayardit, speaking during signing of the contract in May this year, said it would advance economic ties between the two countries while strengthening the free movement of people and goods in the Horn of Africa.