Nairobi — The Government of Southern Sudan is streamlining the movement of its cargo from the port of Mombasa, as it awaits the construction of the port of Lamu.

Government officials are expected to visit the Kenya Ports Authority soon to work on ways of easing the flow of goods into their country.

Southern Sudan is struggling to come out of the woods after years of civil war.

The government's head of mission in Kenya, John Andruga, said they would propose that cargo destined to the country be given priority clearance.

"Sometimes it takes long for our cargo to be cleared. We want to streamline this. Some 80,000 containers passed through the port of Mombasa last year and smooth flow of such cargo from the port is important to us," he said.

He added that they would request that certain berths at the proposed Lamu port be dedicated to cargo headed for Southern Sudan.

The port is expected to open up another transport corridor involving construction of a railway line from Lamu through northern Kenya to Southern Sudan and Ethiopia.

Mr Andruga said the political uncertainty in Sudan should not undermine the efforts being made in forging regional economic integration.

"Our neighbours should realise that our country plays an important role in their development. Unity in our country means a lot to the region. There are over 60,000 Kenyans living in Southern Sudan. In the event that there is no peace, these people will have to return to Kenya, and there will also be an influx of refugees who will strain the Kenyan economy," he said.

The envoy was concerned that the Sudanese government in Khartoum was not keen on honouring the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, especially on the percentage poll required to decide whether Southern Sudan becomes autonomous in the 2011 referendum.

"The National Congress Party in Khartoum wants a 90 per cent vote, which is not practical. This has never been practised anywhere in the world and the normal percentage is normally 51," he said.

The signing of an agreement between Kenya and Uganda on the construction of a standard gauge railway line has also given Southern Sudan a new impetus to be part of the East Africa Community trade block.

The agreement was signed by Mr Mwakwere and his Ugandan counterpart, John Nasasira, in Mombasa last week.

This followed an agreement by Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Yoweri Museveni in January over the establishment of the railway line.

Each government will cater for the cost of the line in their territory.

Southern Sudan's Minister for Roads and Transport Anthony Makana said the government would set aside $20 million in the next financial year for construction of a standard gauge railway line linking Juba with the one planned between Kenya and Uganda.

The ministers spoke to The EastAfrican in Mombasa last week on the sidelines of a two-day regional conference at the Whitesands Beach Hotel.

The theme of the conference was: "Towards reducing the cost of doing business."

The conference brought together regional transport and port stakeholders in EAC, Southern Africa Development Community and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa.

The high cost of doing business, owing to cumbersome procedures, lengthy documentation and delayed reforms, is driving away investors, said the East African Business Council chairman, Faustin Mbundu.

Poor infrastructure in East and Southern Africa was singled out as a great impediment to trade in the region.

President Mwai Kibaki, who was represented at the conference by Transport Minister Chirau Mwakwere, said integration of EAC member states will boost regional growth.