Gazette.Net: Prince George's focuses on opportunities in South Sudan

As part of ongoing efforts to bolster Prince George’s County’s economic presence in Africa, officials hosted a roundtable discussion Monday on emerging business opportunities in the newly-formed South Sudan.

More than 100 businesspeople attended the gathering, which was hosted at the Prince George's Economic Development Corp.'s headquarters in Upper Marlboro and sponsored by U.S. Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-Dist. 5) of Mitchellville, along with the county’s Africa Trade Office and the Association of Maryland Africa Societies.

"This is an opportunity to play a major role in building a nation," said Patricia Hayes-Parker, executive director of the Africa Trade Office.

South Sudan — which had a gross domestic product of $30 billion in 2010, according to federal data, and derives 98 percent of its revenues from oil exports — seceded from Sudan in July following a voter referendum. Because of its new independence and the region's history of continuous civil war, economic development in South Sudan represents an array of challenges and opportunities, roundtable leaders said.