Juba, South Sudan
January 29,2022 — South Sudan’s minister of foreign affairs and international cooperation, Mayiik Ayii, and his Saudi counterpart, Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed a general cooperation agreement between the two countries in Riyadh, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on Monday.
In a statement seen by Nyamilepedia, Hon. Ayii says the agreement focused on investment and economic areas such as Industry, petroleum, minerals, agriculture, livestock, tourism, sports and health sector.
“This General Cooperation Agreement between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the Republic of South Sudan will now allow us to fully engage with a lot of institutions especially in the economic sector here in Saudi Arabia,” Minister Ayii said in a statement.
“They want to come and invest in the Republic of South Sudan, especially in the fields of agriculture, infrastructure among others”, he added.
Ayii said committees will be constituted to expedite trade and the implementation of the bilateral agreement.
“We are now going to form joint technical committees between the two countries to work on the issues of trade. The Saudi minister of foreign affairs told me that they are very interested in investing in South Sudan in all areas especially agriculture, infrastructure, technology, and education,” Ayii lamented.
Ayii stressed that both countries are ready to execute the deal expeditiously.
“In the next couple of days, we are going to be meeting a lot of these agencies and ministries and we will hear what they would like to do,” Minister Ayii said.
According to South Sudan Foreign Affairs Minister, Saudis have been wanting to South Sudan market but lack of this agreement delay their entry.
“The lack of this agreement was preventing them (Saudis) from entering the South Sudan market. Now both sides are ready.”, Minister emphasized in a statement obtained by Nyamilepedia.
Ayii further added that the agreement will encourage the exchange of knowledge and technical expertise as well as promotion of investment, trade fairs and exhibitions, and political ties between the two countries.
