The South Sudan National Chamber of Commerce has moved its annual awards which fetes “best-performing companies” to June 2021.

The Chamber cancelled its annual awards programme after being hard-hit by economic challenges compounded by the coronavirus pandemic.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with the City Review on Wednesday, Chairperson of National Chamber of Commerce Lukak Legge, said they will resume the event in June, 2021 if the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic wanes.

“We are sorry, we won’t do it this year (2020) because it needs lots of money and the country’s economic situation is poor, no money so we will organize next year (2021) starting from June if all goes well,” Lukak said.

The blow by pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic negatively impacted the South Sudan’s business sector, forcing the National Chamber of Commerce to abandon its critical annual program that awards best companies of the year.

The event held annually was last conducted in December 2019, in which many companies took part and worn prestigious awards. It was the first of its kind since independence.

Lukak said the year 2020 was a disgrace to the organisation with devastating economic recession which has impacted every aspect of life in the country.

“We feel ashamed, even to approach our potential sponsors. The year (2020) was bad and the economic situation could not allow us to carry out our annual program. The COVID-19 pandemic and economic crisis have played a big role that affected every life’s aspect,” he said.

Lukak said in 2019 the event cost over 8 million SSP where part of the budget was contributed by companies and well-wishers including, Trinity Energy.

Lukak added “Things are very difficult even salaries for the staff of National Chamber of Commerce are affected by the situation and we have to borrow some money for paying them.”