By James Innocent
The National Minister of Trade and Industry, Atong Kuol Manyang, on Tuesday visited Yei River County as part of an official inspection of the Carnak cigarette factory.
The Minister was accompanied by the Central Equatoria State Minister of Trade and Industry, county authorities.
The visit aimed to assess the factory’s operations and its contribution to trade, employment, and local economic development. Speaking during the tour, Minister Manyang commended the factory for its role in job creation and industrial growth, noting that it employs a significant number of young people from Yei and other parts of South Sudan.
“The cigarette factory in Yei is contributing meaningfully to national development by providing employment opportunities and supporting local livelihoods,” Manyang said.
She praised the management of Carnak for what she described as consistent service delivery and pledged to work collaboratively with the company to expand employment opportunities for South Sudanese youth.
The minister also encouraged greater domestic production of tobacco, arguing that local sourcing could reduce reliance on imports from neighboring countries and help strengthen the national economy.
Central Equatoria State Minister of Trade and Industry, Stephen Lado Anesmos, welcomed the national minister’s visit, saying it demonstrated the government’s commitment to addressing challenges affecting trade and industry in the state.
He called on the national government to encourage more industrial investment in South Sudan, citing benefits such as technology transfer and skills development.
“If more industries are encouraged to operate in the country, South Sudan will benefit greatly, particularly through skills development and technology transfer,” Anesmos said.
He added that the factory, which began operations in 2013, has helped build a pool of skilled local labor. He further noted that the company complies with tax obligations and submits regular reports to the government.
Yei River County Commissioner Emmanuel Taban Seme also welcomed the delegation and praised the factory’s management for its engagement with the local community. He said the factory employs more than 90 percent South Sudanese nationals and has supported several development initiatives across the county.
“The factory’s contribution goes beyond cigarette production,” Seme said. “It has also supported community initiatives, including agricultural activities such as cocoa production.”
Jean Pierre Samputu, a representative of Carnak South Sudan, thanked the national and state ministers, county authorities, and other officials for visiting the facility despite security concerns and poor road infrastructure, which he said continue to affect operations and limit future expansion.
Carnak South Sudan began operations in January 2013 and currently employs more than 150 workers, approximately 90 percent of whom are South Sudanese. The company has become one of the major private-sector employers in Yei River County.
The visit concluded with assurances from Minister Manyang that she would brief the President of South Sudan on key challenges facing Yei River County, particularly infrastructure constraints, with a view to seeking solutions at the national level