Trade and Industry Minister Atong Kuol Manyang departs Juba International Airport for Morocco to attend the Retreat of African Ministers in charge of Trade – Photo credit: Ministry of Trade and Industry/Facebook.

The Minister of Trade and Industry, Atong Kuol Manyang, and her delegation have travelled to the Kingdom of Morocco to attend the Retreat of African Ministers in charge of Trade.

The high-level meeting is scheduled for December 11, 2025, in Marrakech and will run alongside the second edition of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Business Forum.

The retreat aims to improve coordination among African countries and build a unified approach to defending the continent’s priorities in global trade negotiations.

According to the organisers, the discussions are part of preparations as Africa gets ready to host the 14th Ministerial Conference of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in March 2026 in Cameroon.

Key objectives of the Marrakech meeting include strengthening Africa’s position in the global trade system and promoting a collective African voice on important development issues such as agriculture, e-commerce, intellectual property, public health, and reform of the dispute settlement system.

Ministers will also discuss emerging challenges, including digital trade, artificial intelligence, climate change, and supply chain resilience.

During the visit, the delegation will explore South Sudan’s participation with a national pavilion at the accompanying exhibition, which highlights the export potential and productive capacities of African countries.

The engagement provides South Sudan with an opportunity to showcase its economic potential and strengthen its role in continental trade discussions.