South Sudanese have been urged to look outside the box and shun customs that impede economic growth and joining region in business, said Dr Barnaba Marial Benjamin, the Minister of Presidential Affairs.

Dr. Marial said many South Sudanese people have been complaining of jobs taken over by nationals from neighbouring Uganda, Kenya, Sudan or Somalia, among other countries, was not true.

“My advice to our community –sometimes they (South Sudanese) say our business is dominated by (foreigners). I think that is interpreted in a wrong way,” said Dr. Benjamin.”

He added that the negative customs including that encourages polygamy were the feet drag to the progress of the South Sudanese community to capitalise on opportunities both internally and externally.

“I warn, especially young people now that you own a lot of cows -if you don’t have one, you buy (at least) two V-8s and spend the whole money on multiple wives instead of investing, so, you do business.”

The senior official made the remarks during the annual oil conference in the capital, Juba that drew together national, regional and international investors to unlock South Sudan investment opportunities and free trade.

The event also aimed to encourage South Sudanese to trade and invest outside the country, especially in the region to balance the country’s trade and earn revenue to the country.

South Sudan as young a nation, has got many foreign private investors operating and providing jobs to the majority of young people in many parts of the country since 2011 independence. 

Mr. Puot Kang Chol, Minster of Petroleum also pointed out that South Sudanese would not prosper should they limit themselves to invest within the country, calling on the business to venture into other countries.

“It is time that extends our operation elsewhere -those of you who are capable, who have companies, peace has come to step out South Sudan. If we only look inward, we will not make and the world will not what we have,” Mr. Pout.

However, while in South Sudan the government offer a free-market policy to attract investors, may not be the case in neighbouring Kenya, Uganda or Sudan, making it difficult for inexperience South Sudanese to make it across the border.