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OO RUEHROV
DE RUEHC #7539/01 2552024
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O 112020Z SEP 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA IMMEDIATE 5727
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA IMMEDIATE 4664
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI IMMEDIATE 9154
RUEHKH/AMEMBASSY KHARTOUM IMMEDIATE 6333
INFO IGAD COLLECTIVE IMMEDIATE
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO IMMEDIATE 7791
RUEHDR/AMEMBASSY DAR ES SALAAM IMMEDIATE 5097
RUEHDJ/AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI IMMEDIATE 3998
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 097539
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
PLEASE PASS TO CONGEN JUBA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL EAID SU
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE ON SOUTHERN SUDAN TRADE DELEGATION
REF: REF: STATE 90046
1. This is an action request. Please see para. 5.
2. The interest of U.S. companies operating in Addis Ababa,
Kampala, and Nairobi has been encouraging as we continue to
plan for the first U.S. trade delegation to Juba, Sudan.
(ref) The participating companies represent a broad range of
economic interests, including small scale handicraft
industry; project management and human/financial development;
Logistics & transport sectors, including pre-fabricated
housing. The purpose of this cable is to lay out details
related to the structure of the trade delegation and
requirements for participants, and to solicit confirmation of
participation by companies.
3. Details:
DATE: Company representatives must arrive in Juba on Sunday,
September 28 to commence formal delegation activities on
Monday, September 29 given the precarious nature of flight
schedules into Juba. The delegation will depart Juba on
Friday, October 3.
DESTINATION: Juba, Sudan. (Note: We are still exploring the
possibility of taking one night to visit one other area of
Southern Sudan, TBD. Should the delegation travel outside of
Juba, that transportation would be paid for by the USG;
however, each delegate would be responsible for paying for
their own accommodations (see below) End note).
TRAVEL AND VISA ARRANGEMENTS: Delegates are required to
secure their own transportation to and from Juba, as well as
a valid Sudanese visa for their stay. All participants are
advised to apply for Sudanese visas as early as possible.
Posts may wish to provide a "visa expedite" letter to
participants, requesting a professional courtesy from the
Embassy of the Republic of Sudan in their capital and
informing them that the delegation seeks to pursue investment
opportunities in the Sudan.
ATTENDEES: We request that participating companies limit
their number of representatives to two (2) individuals at
most.
ACCOMMODATION: Delegates will be responsible for paying for
their own accommodations, which will be secured by ConGen
Juba at an acceptable local hotel in Juba. (Note: ConGen
Juba will have to pre-pay for all hotel accommodations for
delegates, thus should a delegate ultimately not participate,
ConGen Juba will be held responsible for paying for those
accommodations. We ask that this point be made clear to
potential delegates to minimize the possibility that they
will cancel without notice. End note.)
STRUCTURE AND AGENDA ITEMS: Approximately 29 companies thus
far will be sending representatives to explore the business
climate in Southern Sudan. Though the precise agenda is
still unfolding, the trade delegation will spend the week in
Juba visiting the area and meeting relevant Government of
Southern Sudan (GOSS) officials.
Juba, the developing capital of the Southern Sudan
Region, is a dynamic hub that has been visited by several
international trade delegations; a large German delegation is
the most recent. The Darfur Peace and Accountability Act of
2006 (DPAA) substantially eased the sanctions restrictions in
Southern Sudan, and certain activities involving US entities
no longer require licenses. Some of the areas to be visited
in Juba include: Jebel Kugur area and 19 Acre area
(potential sites for development); All Saints Cathedral
Area/Juba Teaching Hospital; Juba Stadium; Juba University;
Central Business District; Juba Bridge; Juba Port on the
Nile; Konye Konye Market (and select trade/handicraft
locations); Grave Site of John Garang de Mabior; and World
Bank Offices Juba.
The Delegation will meet with: State Governors; Members
of the Southern Sudan Legislative Assembly who have been
awarded constituency development funds for expenditure in
this calendar year; Business Communities and Councilors of
STATE 00097539 002 OF 002
several states in Southern Sudan; County Commissioners; and
the Southern Sudan investment Authority. Delegates can expect
one-on-one time with GOSS President Salva Kiir Mayardit or
Vice President Riek Machar, and senior members of the Council
of Ministers, to include the Ministers of Trade, Industry,
Presidential Affairs, Regional Cooperation, and the Southern
Sudan Investment Authority. In addition, the delegation will
meet with Members of the State Parliament on Constituency
Development Fund Projects and The Wildlife Conservation
Society on Boma National Park.
GROUND TRANSPORTATION IN JUBA: Ground Transportation in and
around Juba will be provided by GOSS buses and Consul General
Juba vehicles.
MEDICAL COVERAGE AND COSTS: Delegates are advised to make
sure that their insurance provider(s) cover medical support
flights. Medevac to Khartoum costs approximately $1,400 on a
commercial carrier. The local clinic in Juba estimates the
cost of an emergency medical evacuation to Nairobi as
approximately $16,000. The local Juba clinic charges $150 per
visit for medical evaluations.
IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT U.S. DOLLARS IN JUBA: U.S. dollars
printed in 2003 or after are accepted in Juba and elsewhere
in Southern Sudan. Note that dollars printed before that
year might not be accepted by all vendors due to
counterfeiting concerns.
4. COST BREAKDOWN TO PARTICIPANTS:
Hotel accommodation: South Sudan Hotel, $110/night,
including breakfast, wireless internet connection, DSTV, and
air-conditioning. 5 nights at the South Sudan hotel will be
approximately $550 USD. (Note: Should the delegation travel
to Malakal as noted above, accommodations in Malakal are
$120/night. End note.)
Transportation to Juba: Variable per individual
Food and Miscellaneous: Estimated at $75 - $100/day,
though note that some events will already include meals
5. ACTION REQUEST ADDIS ABABA, KAMPALA, NAIROBI: The
Department requests posts to secure the final confirmation of
participation for the companies outlined below, along with
the name of the participant. In addition, posts are requested
to inquire with local American Chambers of Commerce, other
American business association channels, as well as
participating companies about the possibility of sponsoring a
representational event at the Consulate General Compound in
Juba during the trade delegation in an effort to defray costs
associated with the delegation. Specifically, U.S.
sponsorship of an event at Juba,s conference venue in the
amount of $2500 would provide an excellent point of entry for
U.S. business interests to the greater Southern Sudan
business community. Posts are requested to respond by OOB
Eastern Standard Time on Monday, September 15 at the absolute
latest to AF/SPG as noted below. At present, our list of
companies to be solidly confirmed by posts are:
ADDIS ABABA: Infosys, PLC; Transtrade Ethiopia; Prosper
International PLC; Boston Medical;Muya Ethiopia PlC; A. A.
Bromhead & Co; Ernst & Young, LLP; Tekur Anbesa Trading PLC;
Teshome Babre-Mariam Bokan; WARYT Mulutila International,
PLC.
NAIROBI: Sara Lee; Eveready East Africa.
KAMPALA: Motorola, Inc; FOTOGENIX Ltd; Mednet Healthcare (U)
Ltd; World-Wide Sires Inc; Computer Frontiers International;
Fedex; Mantrac; Service Computer Industry; UNGA (U) Ltd;
American Procurement Co.; HERTZ; World-Wide Movers; Century
Bottling Co.
USA ENGAGE: Boeing.
INDEPENDENT: Dolarian Capital Inc.
6. Field-based points of contact for this initiative are:
Embassy Khartoum Economic Chief John W. Struble
(StrubleJW@state.gov) and Consulate General Juba Political
Officer Erin Y. Tariot (ETariot@usaid.gov,
erin.congen.juba@gmail.com). Washington based points of
contact are: A/F SPG Desk Officers Pamela Fierst
(fierstpd@state.gov) and Jimmy Clarke (clarkeoa@state.gov).
RICE