A two-day conference for the government to consult with East African countries on how to improve the economy has started in Juba.

The meeting is discussing the high prices of basic food items and make recommendations on the ways forward.

“The objective of the meeting is mainly to share experiences on fiscal governance, monetary policies and revenue collection and management,” Deng Deng Yai, chairman of the organizing committee, explained.

“We are also focusing specifically on the issue of prices of essential commodities in our market, in our local markets, especially prices of food in these markets.”

Traders attribute the rise in the prices of food items in the market to the shortage of the US dollars.

The pound reached its lowest value against the US dollars this month.

In Juba, one US dollar is now selling at 8.9 pounds in the black market while the official rate remains at 3.16 in the commercial banks.

Representatives from Uganda are participating at the conference. Officials say representatives from other East African countries could not arrive in time for the conference.