The Government of Central Equatoria State has approved a landmark $560 million investment by Global Trading Commodities (GTC) Group to establish South Sudan’s first large-scale cement and steel rebar manufacturing plants in Kajo-Keji County.
The decision was endorsed during an extraordinary Council of Ministers meeting held Friday, chaired by Governor Lt. Gen. Rabi Mujung Emmanuel.
The investment proposal was presented by Stephen Lado Onesimo, State Minister of Trade and Industry.
Announcing the resolution after the meeting, Patrick Nyarsuk, Minister of Information and Communication, said the project represents a major step forward in South Sudan’s industrialization agenda.
GTC, a global firm specializing in mining, infrastructure, and investment, plans to construct state-of-the-art cement and steel plants with a combined production capacity of 300 metric tons per day—equivalent to one million metric tons annually.
“This marks a historic milestone as the first major cement production facility in the Republic of South Sudan. The project will not only reduce the country’s dependence on imports but also stimulate construction, create jobs, and drive economic growth,” Nyarsuk said.
The cabinet also tasked the Ministry of Trade and Industry to ensure that GTC implements a robust corporate social responsibility (CSR) plan.
The CSR package includes construction of the Juba–Kajo-Keji highway, rehabilitation of internal roads, and the establishment of permanent and mobile medical centers to serve local communities.
Nyarsuk added that the state government will work closely with the Ministry of Industry and Investment and the Ministry of Mining at the national level to ensure the project’s timely delivery and adherence to industry standards.
He reaffirmed the government’s open-door policy for both local and international investors and its commitment to building a conducive business environment.
“This project demonstrates our determination to unlock the economic potential of Central Equatoria and turn it into a hub for industrial growth,” Nyarsuk concluded.
The GTC investment is expected to significantly cut construction costs, boost infrastructure development, and position Kajo-Keji as a strategic industrial center in South Sudan’s emerging manufacturing sector.
