Lessons South Sudanese government can learn

from Asian tigers of 1960s and 1970s.

By:Otwari Dominic Oromo

‘Asian Tigers’ is a nicknamed that was given to Asians flourishing economies that centered
included powerful economies such as Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea and Taiwan. These
nations were famous for fast growing economies that they had developed and empowered in the
60s and 70s. The rapid economic growth was fueled by exports, educated populace, high savings
and rapid industrialization that was a priority to these third world economies during that time.
Today, these countries have been ranked as the fastest growing economies in the world. Their
economic growth was and is still viewed as miraculous and some authors allude this to their
success story. The economies of the four tigers proved to be resilient enough to withstand local
crises, such as the Asian financial crisis of 1997, as well as the global economic shocks like the
credit crunch of 2008 and hyperinflation.
That being said, South Sudan has constantly faced intractable obstacles that has debilitated the
whole country and its economy. These forces include absence of economic reforms, corruption,
weak institutions of learning, constant political instability, attacks on roads by unknown gunmen
and high crime rates by gang groups especially within Juba town that affects local and foreign
investors. All these obstacles, including afunctional infrastructural have hindered the flow of
goods and services.
Despite the high poverty rates and a discouraging birth through war and secession should not be
a blockade for “Junub” (South Sudan) to attain developmental goals as indicated in Sustainable
Development Goals, especially SDG 1, 3 and 12. South Sudan can defy the all the expectations
in the decades of war by careful state planning and coordinated national efforts, such as equitable
revenue sharing to states and integration with its member states especially the East African
Community and other selected clubs across the globe to enable them to attain the income levels
like that of other economies and even surpass them.
It’s important for both the government and stakeholders to recognize the limitation of production
and market failure in the allocation of the substantial resources in the economy and as well
understand important roles required in the development of nascent nation that is endured with
enormous resources. The land, water and mineral resource (oil, gold, diamond, fertile soils and
many more) are plenty in South Sudan compared to its smaller population. Therefore, effective
management and development of these resources would offer the prospect of sustained economic
growth for an extended period of time.
At the institutional level, improvement in the state capacity is essential driver for development. A
working level of cohesion must be built through policies and power arrangements that emphasize
equity and inclusiveness. To attend such heights in economic growth and development,
Democracy is the best system for building legitimate and inclusive states that can minimize the
prospects of war. However, under certain circumstances, some fragile contexts, dominant cross
cutting coalitions by the government, opposition and other stakeholders may be better equipped
to deliver stability and growth.
The Asian Tigers had established not just a foothold, but a presence on the ladder of
development by laying a strategy to develop human capital, particularly science and technology,
were the factors that South Sudan could emulate. The correct application of the monetary and
fiscal policy should be seen as a crucial to South Sudan government because it signals to
domestic and foreign investors as well as stimulation of domestic savings.
In conclusion, the outward looking development developed by the Asian tigers depended on the
expanded export base in the ever extending degree while the effort aimed at improvement of the
internal situation, therefore for a low income economy such as South Sudan, the government and
all the stakeholders need to ensure stabilization of the country through peace and security then all
the following aspects can be achieved: import substitution through investment in domestic
production; well-functioning public and private institutions; well-developed basic infrastructure;
a stable macroeconomic framework; and a healthy and literate labor force through education
reforms and provision of incentives to the civil servants.
Mr. Otwari Dominic Oromo is an undergraduate student of BSc. Economics and Statistics at
Kyambogo University, Kampala-Uganda.
Email. bro.dominematt8707@gmail.com