Greater Pibor Chief Administrator Gola Boyoi Gola and Ethiopia's Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Dr. Kassahun Gofe Balami, pose for a group photo with their delegations after bilateral talks in Addis Ababa. Photo: GPAA Press Unit.

South Sudan and Ethiopia have agreed to strengthen cooperation on cross border trade, security and regional integration following high level talks in Addis Ababa.

The meeting took place on Wednesday in the Ethiopian capital and was led by the Chief Administrator of the Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Gola Boyoi Gola.

Gola headed a South Sudanese delegation that included Deputy Information Minister David Yau Yau and Foreign Affairs Ministry representative Ambassador William Wani.

The delegation held talks with Ethiopia’s Minister of Trade and Regional Integration, Dr. Kassahun Gofe Balami, on improving bilateral trade, enhancing border security and promoting legal cross border commerce.

According to a statement issued by Gola, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to fully implementing the Border Trade Protocol to strengthen economic cooperation and improve livelihoods in border communities.

The Ethiopian government pledged to take the necessary legal and administrative measures to enforce the agreement and ensure border communities receive essential services.

The two sides also agreed to intensify efforts to curb illegal cross border trade and replace it with a formal trading system that promotes sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity.

The agreement will also extend the implementation of the Border Trade Protocol to the Greater Pibor Administrative Area as part of broader efforts to deepen cooperation between South Sudan and Ethiopia.

The Border Trade Protocol, a framework aimed at facilitating trade, was among nine cooperation agreements signed by South Sudan and Ethiopia in February 2017.

The Memoranda of Understanding also included agreements on the construction of two highways linking the neighbouring Horn of Africa nations.

One highway will connect Gambella, Paggak and Paloic, while the other will link Dima, Raad, Boma and Bor.