First Undersecretary in the Ministry of Trade Kuol Daniel Ayulo speaks to the media on Wednesday. (-)

The National Ministry of Trade and Industry has officiated new branches of food stores selling maize in Juba to enable the public to buy food at subsidized prices amid soaring inflation in the country.

The ministry first undersecretary, Kuol Daniel Ayulo, said the initiative serves as a short- and long-term solution to curb high prices of essential goods in the market.

Ayulo said the same initiative will also be extended to the states in a few weeks’ time, to enable every household to afford the cost of living.

The subsidized maize flour can be found in six stores in the areas of Hai Referendum, Konyo-Konyo, New Site, Jebel Dinka, Munuki and Sherikat. The stores offer a 50 kg bag of Maize floor at 30,000 SSP compared to the market prices of 55,000 SSP or more.

The food stores are reportedly managed by Prosperity Limited, a private company that partnered with the government to sell the commodities.

The move is said to be part of Government and Private sector relation in ensuring essential commodities are afforded by the citizens.

South Sudan’s pound currency has continued to weaken drastically against the United States dollar, triggering a sharp increase in commodity prices across the country.

The country has lately been hit by economic hardships that have left the government struggling to pay civil servants salaries, as the public workforce goes for months without its dues.

The situation has been blamed on dwindling revenue due to the impact of the war in Sudan and the Red Sea blockade on the country’s previous oil export.

The Central Bank exchange rate posted on Thursday, March 7, 2024, shows one dollar trading at an average of 1,618 South Sudanese pounds, while in the black market, one dollar cost nearly 1,800 pounds.