By Yang Ater
Authorities in Awerial County, Lakes State, have launched a new business center for salted fish in Mingkaman town.
The initiative is aimed at supporting the local fishmongers and streamlining the export of salted fish to the rest of East Africa.
For years, the fish mongers in Awerial have been using the Bor Port as a transit point to sell their salted fish in markets across East Africa, including Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The new center, located at the Mingkaman port, will provide a dedicated facility for the fishmongers to store and distribute their products.
“The land is good in Awerial and the government in this county is good. The place that has been given to us is very good. The best place for salted fish is a dry area and this port is very good. I encourage my fellow business people to come here because this place is the best to sell salted fish,” said Mayoor Nyiny-piu, one of the salted fish dealers.
The Deputy Executive Director for Awerial County, Albino Chuei Biar, expressed his support for the initiative and urged the fishmongers to utilize the new centre to stabilize their businesses.
“We came purposely for the fish business centre launching. We witnessed it and it was approved by the commissioner. It is organized and there is a very good warehouse here and they are welcomed by me and the town clerk,” he said.
“The security of their fish will be upon the government and the arrangement is already in play. On behalf of the community, I witnessed it and I was authorized together with the town clerk to open this officially today,” he added.
Salted fish is one of the leading exports from South Sudan to East Africa, and the new centre in Mingkaman is expected to help streamline the supply chain and improve the livelihoods of the local fishmongers.
The fish mongers have also promised to train other fish mongers in Awerial on how to properly preserve fish using salt.