By Deng Ghai Deng
Central Equatoria State Ministry of Trade and Industry in collaboration with Central Equatoria Business Union (CESBU) launched a project aimed at equipping small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with essential skills and knowledge.
The initiative, unveiled on Tuesday at the State Secretariat in Juba, is part of a broader effort to build human capital and enhance the competitiveness of businesses across the region.
The project, which is themed “Towards Strengthening Human Capital for Socio-Economic Growth”, will implement a skill transfer model designed to address critical gaps identified by the state government.
The training program will specifically target over 200 SMEs across Central Equatoria, including those in the six counties of Lainya, Yei, Morobo, Kajo Keji, and the Juba City Council.
State Minister for Trade and Industry, Wani Tom Sebit, emphasized the importance of the training, saying the initiative was born out of observations made during a recent visit by the state governor Jadalla to four counties.
During the visit, he said the Governor received feedback from local business communities regarding the need for skill development to better compete in regional and global markets.
“These training programs are designed to address the gaps identified by the Governor during his recent visits to the counties of Lainya, Yei, Morobo, and Kajo Keji. The business communities in these areas expressed a strong desire for skill development to enhance their competitiveness,” Minister Tom said.
“We are committed to working with key stakeholders and development partners to invest in human capital development and support the growth of businesses in Central Equatoria State,” he added.
Thomas Muto Lu’buda, the Patron of CEBU and the Consultant of the Juba Special Economic Zone said that the project is meant to enable small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to compete in the market.
“For us to be effective in the market, we need business skills and Central Equatoria Business Union as a trade member organization in partnership with the State government we have initiated capacity building project that is going to empower the startups with skills of record keeping, communication and as well competing strategies in the market,” said Muto.
The initiative aims to strengthen SMEs’ capacity in various areas, including business management, marketing, and financial planning, which are critical to ensuring sustainable economic growth in the state.
The Ministry has underscored that the project is part of broader efforts to create a dynamic business environment, improve job creation, and support local businesses as they expand and thrive.
The project’s implementation will be supported by a range of local and international partners dedicated to promoting economic development and human capital investment in South Sudan.