By: Chol D. Johnson
South Sudan’s Ambassador to Kenya and Permanent Representative to UN-Habitat and UNEP, Anthony Kon, has revealed a plan to establish a consulate in Mombasa.
In the statement issued by South Sudan embassy press unit yesterday during South Sudan Trade Ties with Mombasa Leadership in Kenya, Kon said the establishment would facilitate trade.
“South Sudan’s plan to establish a South Sudan Consulate in Mombasa which will facilitate trade and provide stronger support to South Sudanese stakeholders in the region” the statement partly read.
According to the statement, he highlighted his broader engagements with Kenya’s Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs, the Ministry of Trade, and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), stressing that South Sudan’s opportunities extend well beyond oil to include minerals and other untapped sectors.
The statement also emphasized his commitment to convening a joint business forum that would bring South Sudanese and Kenyan investors together to exchange ideas and explore partnerships.
It further stated Ambassador Kon urged Kenyan investors to look beyond Juba, Wau, and Bor and to consider the wider regions of South Sudan that hold enormous potential for growth.
“Mombasa is a gateway to South Sudanese imports and exports and connects South Sudan with the region and the rest of the world” the statement partly read.
“Mombasa is not only Kenya’s port but also South Sudan’s port. South Sudan will continue to use Mombasa as its main port. My visit is to strengthen that link and reinforce South Sudan’s presence here” the statement further noted.
The statement underscored Ambassador Kon expressed readiness to return to Mombasa to deliver a comprehensive presentation on South Sudan’s investment opportunities and business climate, if invited by the county government.
It also stated Kon outlined his program in Mombasa, which includes meetings with cargo handling companies, tours of their facilities, and direct engagement with stakeholders to hear the challenges affecting goods bound for South Sudan.
According to the statement, Ambassador Kon was accompanied by a diplomat from the Embassy, South Sudan Customs officers, and representatives of the South Sudanese business community.
It stressed that the visit underscored the importance of Mombasa as South Sudan’s primary access point for international trade and a hub for building stronger regional ties.
Additionally, the statement underlined that he informed the Mombasa Governor Abdullswamad Sherrif Nassir said that he would also be meeting with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and representatives of forwarding and clearing companies to understand why clearing and shipping costs remain disproportionately high and to listen to proposals for reducing them.