The number of businesses registered in South Sudan have more than doubled from 2006 – 2010, according to a new report from the African Development Bank.

The report also looked at imports and exports, revealing that the major trading country – Uganda – had increased its imports to South Sudan tenfold ….to over 635 million US dollars in just three years.

South Sudan exported less than half a million dollars’ worth of goods to Uganda in the same period.

Leading economist, Ahmed Morjan told Eye Radio that to create an equal trade relationship South Sudan needs to concentrate on growth and performance in the export sector.

“South Sudan needs to do a lot if it is to balance this trade relationship because you cannot balance relation out of nothing, you have to be a producer of something or some things so that you export,” he said. “Now to improve that one, South Sudan has to begin to think of internal investment such that it gains some competitiveness and this should be done through cost reduction you know and it needs time, it needs a lot of policies.”

According to the African Development Bank report, informal trade – such as businesses run by families or individuals – is still a dominating factor in South Sudan’s economy.