The trade and industry department will head a business delegation to South Sudan for a trade and investment mission, the department said on Tuesday.

The event, scheduled to take place from Tuesday to Friday, aims to launch the South African-Sudanese Joint Business Council and further assess economic opportunities in South Sudan, spokesperson Bongani Lukhele said in a statement.

The mission follows a visit by the DTI and the department of international relations and co-operation (previously foreign affairs) in November 2008, during which a preliminary economic development and co-operation scan was conducted.

The visit would provide opportunities for South African companies to export goods and services and invest in the country, and help the African Union's Sudan post-conflict reconstruction process.

Over 20 public and private sector companies would participate.