Dr. James Wani Igga, the Vice President for Economic Cluster addressing the 5th governors' forum in Juba on November 22, 2021. (File photo/Courtesy).

The Council of Ministers on Friday tasked the Economic Cluster chaired by Vice President Dr. James Wani Igga, to come up with plans to address economic hardship in the country.

Other members of the cluster are Finance Minister of Finance Dr. Dier Tong Ngor and the governor of the Bank of South Sudan Johnny Ohisa.

Information Minister Michael Makuei said the cluster is responsible for addressing the looming economic woes in the country.

“These are economic issues and this is the task of the economic cluster, we come up with the plan on the way forward, but this was pushed to the economic cluster, so that they came up with the plan on way forward,” Makuei said Friday after the Council of Ministers meeting in Juba.

Recently, the exchange rate between the local currency and U.S. dollar has deteriorated resulting in increasing commodity prices in the market.

On Friday, Finance Minister Dier Tong and Central Bank Governor Johnny Ohisa briefed President Kiir on the current economic situation and their monetary plans.

Minister Dier said the government would inject enough dollars into the market to meet the high demand for hard currency.

Meanwhile Johnny Ohisa said the institution was planning to finance the import of essential commodities in a bid to bring down runaway inflation.

Ohisa said the government had enough reserves to address the current inflation in the market.