VOA标准英语2011--South Sudanese President Says Country Open for Business

South Sudanese President Says Country Open for Business

South Sudan became an independent nation in July, and it's looking for business. An international conference in Washington Wednesday and Thursday is focusing on the new country in Africa and featuring speeches from President Salva Kiir and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. But a South Sudanese American living in Washington says there's much more to be done before economic development succeeds.

The South Sudanese president greeted Washington, wearing his trademark¹ American cowboy hat. International investors² welcomed him as a celebrity³.

"I want to invite you today to come with me to South Sudan after this conference to help develop our potential in oil, gas and mineral resources," Kiir stated.

The oil is a boon⁴ for the world's newest country, but it's also a strain. South Sudan ended up with 70 percent of the oilfields in its independence break up. But South Sudan is landlocked. So it relies on Sudan to the north for pipelines⁵.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said oil can lift South Sudan out of poverty. But she warned of the prospect⁶ of poor management.

"You will fall prey⁷ to the natural resource curse which will enrich a small elite⁸, outside interests, corporations, and countries and leave your people hardly better off than when you started," Clinton said.

South Sudan became a new country after decades of war. Continuing border violence has displaced hundreds of thousands. The Sudan People's Liberation Army fought for the south's independence. Angelos Agok was one of them. Now, he's an American citizen,

He's proud he helped South Sudan win its freedom. And proud of his old boss who became president. Still, he's worried about how international companies do business in South Sudan.

"These companies bring these people from their country and employ them 100 percent. I will tell you, including those who clean the floor are not South Sudanese. And so, it doesn't create any economy," Agok noted⁹. "And doesn't create job security for the people whom we fought for."

To the South Sudanese, independence means more than a separate country, separate government. Agok says his countrymen have basic needs like food and jobs. And, only then will they have true peace.

1 trademark   

n.商标；特征；vt.注册的…商标

参考例句：

• The trademark is registered on the book of the Patent Office.该商标已在专利局登记注册。
• The trademark of the pen was changed.这钢笔的商标改了。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 celebrity   

n.名人，名流；著名，名声，名望

参考例句：

• Tom found himself something of a celebrity. 汤姆意识到自己已小有名气了。
• He haunted famous men, hoping to get celebrity for himself. 他常和名人在一起, 希望借此使自己获得名气。

4 boon   

n.恩赐，恩物，恩惠

参考例句：

• A car is a real boon when you live in the country.在郊外居住，有辆汽车确实极为方便。
• These machines have proved a real boon to disabled people.事实证明这些机器让残疾人受益匪浅。

5 pipelines   

管道( pipeline的名词复数 )； 输油管道； 在考虑（或规划、准备） 中； 在酿中

参考例句：

• The oil is carried to the oil refinery by pipelines. 石油通过输油管输送到炼油厂。
• The oil carried in pipelines. 石油用管道输送。

6 prospect   

n.前景，前途；景色，视野

参考例句：

• This state of things holds out a cheerful prospect.事态呈现出可喜的前景。
• The prospect became more evident.前景变得更加明朗了。

7 prey   

n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨

参考例句：

• Stronger animals prey on weaker ones.弱肉强食。
• The lion was hunting for its prey.狮子在寻找猎物。

8 elite   

n.精英阶层；实力集团；adj.杰出的，卓越的

参考例句：

• The power elite inside the government is controlling foreign policy.政府内部的一群握有实权的精英控制着对外政策。
• We have a political elite in this country.我们国家有一群政治精英。

9 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。