Browsing: Regional Trade

Among the various ways to strengthen the private sector and thus promote African trade, African governments must enable the private sector to play an active role in realising regional integration objectives.…

The East African Industry Captains have convened in Arusha, Tanzania at Mt. Meru Hotel, to chart out regional policy priorities geared to spur intra-EAC trade to over 30%.

The regional policy priorities were presented to the EAC Secretary General Dr. Peter Mathuki who assumed office on 23^rd April 2021, in a bid to inform his vision of transforming the EAC into a prosperous, inclusive, trade and investment bloc.

Also Read: EABC calls for standardisation of Covid-19 charges

“As the industry leaders we have analyzed key trade and investment barriers, delaying East African businesses to take full advantage of the EAC Customs Union and Common Market, said Mr. John Bosco Rusagara representing EABC Chairman Mr. Nick Nesbitt at the meeting.

Finalization of the comprehensive review of the EAC Common External Tariff (CET) to boost industrialization and regional value chains; the quick elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers and operationalization of the Committee …

It is a new dawn for trade and prosperity in East Africa as the Chief Executive Officer of the East African Business Council Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki is appointed as the incoming Secretary-General of the East African Community by the 21^st Ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State held virtually on 27^th February 2021.

Dr. Mathuki holds a PhD in Strategic Management & Regional Integration from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. As the Chief Executive Officer of the East African Business Council (EABC) he has been instrumental in driving and articulating the Private Sector priorities in EAC decision-making process.

As the EABC CEO, Dr. Mathuki has been instrumental in implementing the turn-around strategy of the East African Business Council under the vision of a borderless East Africa for increased business and investment. He has spearheaded many international, continental and regional high-level public-private dialogues aimed at resolving bottlenecks …

An apex regional business community has backed Ambassador Amina Mohamed’s candidature for the position of Director General at the World Trade Organisation (WTO).  The East African Business Council (EABC) said that this was buoyed by her promise to steer reforms towards eliminating trade barriers and implementing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement if selected. 

This followed a virtual meeting by the Business Council that convened industry captains from the East African region to deliberate on deepening relations between the private sector in East Africa and the WTO. 

Speaking from Geneva, Ambassador Amina said she would push for a vibrant multi-lateral trading system to boost Africa’s trade.  “If I was selected, I would be a strong advocate for an open trading system. I’d also be a leader in reforming the system and particularly in recovering the economy from the COVID-19 pandemic.”  

According to the UN Economic …

The East African Business Council has lauded the President of the United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli and the President of the Republic of Kenya, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, for their directives on ensuring free movement of goods across borders between Kenya and Tanzania, which will facilitate increased trade between the two countries.

In a statement, EABC therefore urges the Ministers Responsible for Transport, Health and EAC to convene and find a win-win lasting solution to the barriers hindering the free movement of cargo across EAC borders and in particular, the borders between the two countries.

“The fourteen (14) days standstill on the movement of goods between Kenya and Tanzania borders risks business continuity and affects intra-EAC trade. There are over 1000 trucks stranded at both sides of the border, this is significantly affecting the intra-EAC trade and movement of essential and perishable goods across borders.” The statement …

The East African Business Council has called for closer government partnership and involvement with the private sector in policy formulation to enhance the competitiveness of the EAC region.

This, according to the EABC Chairman Mr Nick Nesbitt will also enhance value addition in agriculture, mining and services sectors among others as well as strengthening regional value chains.

“EABC is a respected coordinator and holds respective dialogue with EAC governments with balanced regional views and policy stance,” he said.

Mr. Nebsitt  was speaking during a courtesy visit to Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and highlighted the importance of fast tracking the  comprehensive review of EAC CET; Liberalization of Opens Skies;  One Network Area on Telecommunication; Harmonization of Standards in the EAC; Strengthening the EAC Secretariat on enforcement of laws; Market access with Democratic Republic of the Congo; Transport interlinkages in the region – Road, Rail and Water (lake Victoria); Inter-governmental trade …

The apex body for East Africa’s businesses, East African Business Council has urged regional CEOs to opportunities arising from the EAC regional integration process.

This takes place even as the council in collaboration with TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) launched the regional programme on Public-Private Sector Dialogue (PPD) for Trade and Investment from 2019 to 2023.

According to EABC Chief Executive Mr Peter Mathuki said “The project aims to enhance advocacy and dialogue on transport and logistics, trade facilitation, customs & tax, standards, and NTBs at regional and country level. In addition, the programme extends beyond the EAC and incorporates the COMESA, COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and  Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).”

“Public-Private Dialogue can facilitate the trade & investment climate reforms by promoting better diagnosis of investment climate problems, transparency and inclusive design of policy reforms making policies easier to implement. TMEA launched this new partnership with …