14 February 2013 - Seeking to make information about investment in South Sudan more accessible, a conference about a planned investment guide book was held today in the Western Bahr El-Ghazal capital Wau.

Participants at the one-day conference, which was organized by the Ministry of Trade and Industry's Department of Public Investment Corporation, included representatives from various ministries and the media. The department is responsible for promoting investment at the state level.

"There have been many questions about investment in South Sudan and as such, this book will be a (useful) guide for many investors who want to come to South Sudan," said Hari Shrestha, a representative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP).

UNDP will support the ministry in publishing the book, which will highlight South Sudan's investment regulations, the Investment Promotion Act of 2009 and priority areas for investment.

Mr. Shrestha said the Ministry of Investment, with support from the UNDP, planned to open a facility or "one-stop shop" to ease registration and licensing or investors in the country.

"The concept of the one-stop shop is to bring business and regulatory agencies together in a user friendly and efficient process for the issuance of investment certificates, licenses, and permits as well as providing customer care services," he said.