There are 1.2 million South Sudanese in the Diasporas who are contributing more than 86 million dollars to the country’s economy annually, the minister of Labour has said.

In a statement sent to Eye Radio newsroom, minister James Hoth Mai said the Diasporas remit nearly up to 13 percent of their yearly income to South Sudan.

This is 6.7 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product or GDP.

Last year, the International Monetary Fund projected South Sudan in third position among 26 Sub-Saharan African countries to see higher economic growth rates.

South Sudan’s GDP was at its highest peak – 18.43 – in 2013, but plunged to zero during the conflict, before picking a slow growth in 2018.

It is not clear how South Sudan, a country where two third of the population depends on humanitarian assistance, attained one of the highest standard measures of added value, created through the production of goods and services.

However, ever since its independence, the country had been relying 98 percent on income generated from the oil proceeds.

During the 4th ministerial session of the labour ministers from 11 countries in the East and Horn of Africa in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa last week, minister Hoth said South Sudanese in the Diasporas are contributing to the economic growth of the country.

“We have up to 1.2 million Diasporas abroad who remit nearly up to 13% of their yearly income to South Sudan, or about USD 86,510,000 contributing to 6.7% of our GDP. Their remittances have been used not only for daily needs but also to support their communities at home to respond to disasters including by investing in green economies,” he said.

Hoth Mai said South Sudan is working on a policy proposal promoting development investment through remittances.

According to him, South Sudan’s diaspora mostly resides in the United States, Canada, and Australia and some live in Europe, the majority of those reside in the United Kingdom and in the region.

He said with the support of IOM, the country conducted mapping of South Sudanese diasporas in Australia and will soon conduct mapping of South Sudanese diasporas in Europe.

Mai said these mappings will contribute to South Sudan’s policy development.