East African Business Week

KAMPALA, UGANDA - South Sudan President Salva Kiir has said that the newly created country is ready to become a member of the East African Community (EAC).
If granted membership, Southern Sudan will become the sixth partner state of the EAC
"We hope that the country will speedily be considered for membership to the economic bloc to enable it reap the benefits of regional integration," he said during a meeting with the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Mr Abdirahin Abdi in Juba.
He hailed EAC for supporting South Sudan and the Sudan during the period of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
"I note with gratification the assembly's efforts in ensuring that peace in South Sudan prevailed," he noted.
The Assembly visited South Sudan to assess the state of preparedness during the period leading to the referendum and also sent an observer team during the referendum.
President Kiir stated that the Parliament of South Sudan stood to benefit from the enriching experience of EALA.
 Speaker Abdirahin Abdi said that citizens of South Sudan had bestowed on him confidence to lead the new republic to greater heights.  
He urged the citizens to unite and re-double their efforts in building the new nation.  
He said the EAC was committed to ensuring peace generally prevails in Sudan as a whole and added that the envisaged entry of South Sudan in to the EAC would strengthen the economic bloc further.
"The Republic of South Sudan provides a wide range of opportunities for investment and trade, we shall welcome the entry of South Sudan in to the regional bloc with open arms once ready", he said.
 We welcome you with open arms among the independent nations of our region and wish you Progress, Peace and Prosperity.