By Awan Achiek
The Minister for Transport Madut Biar Yel, on Thursday revealed plans by government to modernize the Juba Port to meet international standards.
Biar said that the port will ease movement of people and goods along the River Nile.
Adding that it will facilitate trade between South Sudan and neighboring countries.
“The Juba Port would be developed and modernized as per international standards, we want to make a modern port here,” Biar said during the launch of the accommodation barge for UN Peacekeepers in Juba.
“But the bigger port would be in Mangalla, Bor, Malakal, and Renk plus Manga in Bentiu and Nasir in Upper Nile. These are going to be bigger ports because they are located in productive areas where a lot of business will be taking place,” he added.
He said that the development of Juba Port would also attract more investments to South Sudan.
“We would work hard to build our ports to modern standards so that we can give efficient and effective services to our people. This will greatly enhance the port efficiency ushering in a new era of economic growth in our country,” he said.
Biar added that government will also embark on rehabilitation of several ports along the River Nile.
“There are ports along the Nile going to Malakal up to Renk. Those are exactly the ports we want to develop, and we want to change the face of those ports because these are very old ports that need rehabilitation,” he said.