By Sabri Dibaco
South Sudan’s Caretaker Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Labanya Margaret Mathya, has underscored the importance of the United Nations Convention on Negotiable Cargo Documents in facilitating cross-border trade, promoting the exchange of goods and services, and ensuring timely delivery of cargo.
Dr. Labanya made the remarks in Accra, Ghana, where she led a South Sudanese delegation to the signing ceremony of the treaty, also known as the Accra Convention, alongside the commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL).
She said the convention was important in strengthening international trade by making the movement of goods across borders easier and promoting cooperation among countries.
The treaty aims to facilitate the transportation of goods across borders and strengthen the legal framework supporting international commercial transactions.
Dr. Labanya’s remarks highlighted the importance of efficient cargo movement and reliable trade procedures in enabling businesses to exchange goods and services across international markets.
For South Sudan, improved trade facilitation could support businesses seeking access to regional and international markets, while helping reduce challenges associated with the movement and delivery of goods.
The convention also provides an opportunity for countries to strengthen cooperation in international trade and improve the processes involved in transporting cargo across borders.
The South Sudanese delegation’s participation in the ceremony comes as the country seeks to strengthen its engagement in international trade and improve opportunities for businesses to participate in regional and global commerce.
The event also marked six decades of UNCITRAL’s work in developing and promoting harmonised rules for international commercial transactions.
Dr. Labanya’s emphasis on the treaty’s role in facilitating trade, promoting the exchange of goods and services, and ensuring timely cargo delivery underscores the importance of effective trade frameworks in supporting economic cooperation and business development.
The convention is intended to contribute to smoother cross-border trade by strengthening the arrangements governing negotiable cargo documents, which are used in the transportation and transfer of goods.