JUAKALI23

 

conference filled  About the Trade Fair

The EAC MSMEs Trade Fair aims to create awareness of the sector’s potential in producing and providing essential affordable goods and services and showcasing the region's diversified cultures.
 

presenter  Symposium

During the Trade Fair, a daily Symposium will be run with a view to recommending harmonisation of policies and strategies in enhancing regional integration and development of East Africa.
 

Collaboration icon  Partner State Profiles

Embracing MSMEs as an enabler and driver of a people-centered integration agenda through expanded marketing outlets for the sector’s products and services.

Exhibitor Exhibition

This activity is designed to enable the participating artists to showcase and sell their wares such as jewelry, clothing, curios, paintings etc.

Exhibitor Registration Form >

 

Calendar   Venues and Activities

Discover what the trade fair has to offer, as artisans from the region exhibit their products, a true display of East Africa's strong cultural heritage and innovation.

presentation Partner States' Days

The EAC Partner States will have an opportunity to showcase their Tradition and Culture on the specific Partner States’ Days. The days are as per the programme of activities.

Trade Fair Schedule >

 

 ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

The East African Community undertakes MSMEs promotion through bringing together different artisans from all the Partner States under the annual East African Community Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair formally known as the EAC Jua Kali Nguvu Kazi Exhibition. The Trade Fair is organized by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Confederation of Micro and Small Enterprises Organization (CMSEO - EA) and the Partner States.

The first Trade Fair was held in Arusha in November 1999 during the historic event of signing of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. Subsequent to the success of the Arusha Trade Fair, the EAC Heads of State directed that the Trade Fair be held annually on rotational basis among the EAC Partner States so as to enhance and revamp the socio-economic integration of the people of East Africa, opening up new market frontiers for their products while bridging up the knowledge and technological gaps between them.

The 2023 edition of the Trade Fair is themed Connecting East African MSMEs to Enhance Intra EAC Trade’”.

The 23rd Trade Fair is scheduled to take place from 5th - 15th December, 2023 in Bujumbura, Burundi. The Trade Fair will bring together more than 1,000 exhibitors from all the EAC Partner States.

 

EAC PARTNER STATE PROFILES

  • Burundi
    The Republic of Burundi (Kirundi: Republika y’Uburundi; Français: République du Burundi), is a landlocked contry, located in the African Great Lakes region of East Africa, bordered by the Republic of Rwanda to the North, the United Repuvblic of Tanzania to the East and South, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to the West. It is also sometimes considered as part of the Central Africa.

    Read More >

  • Congo (DRC)
    The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) is located in central sub-Saharan Africa, bordered to the northwest by the Republic of the Congo, to the north by the Central African Republic, to the northeast by South Sudan, to the east by Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi, and by Tanzania (across Lake Tanganyika), to the south and southeast by Zambia, to the southwest by Angola, and to the west by the South Atlantic Ocean and the Cabinda Province exclave of Angola.

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  • Kenya
    Kenya is a country in East Africa with coastline on the Indian Ocean. It encompasses savannah, lake lands, the dramatic Great Rift Valley, mountain highlands and abundant wildlife such as lions, elephants and rhinos. From Nairobi, the capital, safaris visit the Masaai Mara reserve, known for its annual wildebeest migrations, and Amboseli National Park, offering views of Tanzania’s 5,895m Mt Kilimanjaro.

    Read More >

  • Rwanda
    Rwanda, known as the land of a thousand hills, its stunning scenery and warm, friendly people offer unique experiences in one of the most remarkable countries in the world. It is blessed with extraordinary biodiversity, with incredible wildlife living throughout its volcanoes, montane rainforest and sweeping plains.

    Read More >

  • South Sudan
    South Sudan is bordered by Sudan to the north, Ethiopia to the east, Kenya to the southeast, Uganda to the south, the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the southwest, and the Central African Republic to the west. It includes the vast swamp region of the Sudd, formed by the White Nile and known locally as the Bahr al Jabal.

    Read More >

  • Uganda
    Uganda is a landlocked country in East Africa whose diverse landscape encompasses the snow-capped Rwenzori Mountains and immense Lake Victoria. Its abundant wildlife includes endangered gorillas and chimpanzees as well as rare birds. Remote Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is a famous mountain gorilla sanctuary, while Murchison Falls National Park in the northwest is known for its 43m-tall waterfall and wildlife such as hippos.

    Read More >

  • Tanzania
    Tanzania is an East African country known for its vast wilderness areas. They include the plains of Serengeti National Park, a safari mecca populated by the “big five” game (elephant, lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino), and Kilimanjaro National Park, home to Africa’s highest mountain. Offshore lie the tropical islands of Zanzibar and Mafia Marine Park, where whale sharks swim through reefs.

    Read More >

 


Trade Fair Activities

Opening & Closing Ceremonies

Opening & Closing Ceremonies

These two events will entail the signaling of the start as well as the close of the Festival by the Guest of Honour.
Exhibition

Exhibition


The Trade Fair will be located at venue, which will host various cultural exhibitions by EAC Partner States.
Symposium

Symposium


A daily Symposium will be run by professional and experienced local and Regional presenters



Symposium Thematic Areas

The Symposium will provide a forum for regional experts to discuss and deliberate topical issues, with a view to recommending the harmonisation of policies and strategies in enhancing regional integration and development of East Africa.

MSMEs opportunities in the Republic of Burundi

Preparing MSMEs to take up opportunities under the AfCFTA

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) aims to create a single market for goods and services for almost 1.3 billion people across Africa and deepening the economic integration of Africa. The trade area could have a combined gross domestic products of around $3.4 trillion and intra-Africa export potential of US. 22 billion. If fully implemented the AfCFTA could boost regional incomes by as much as 9 percent—to $571 billion. It could create almost 18 million more jobs, many of them higher-paying and better-quality jobs, with women workers seeing the biggest gains. By 2035, the resulting jobs and income growth could help up to 50 million people exit extreme poverty. However, achieving its full potential depends on significantly policy reforms, trade facilitation measures across African signatory nations and awareness and training on the opportunities especially for the MSMEs.

The AfCFTA plans to reduce tariffs among members and covers policy areas such as trade facilitation and services, as well as regulatory measures such as sanitary standards and technical barriers to trade. The AfCFTA will gradually eliminate tariffs on 90 percent of goods and reduce barriers to trade in services.

As state parties make efforts to reduce the barriers to trade and investment, export sectors that likely to grow the most are textiles and apparel; chemical, rubber and plastic products; and processed foods. In order to unlock these potential gains in trade, investment, and jobs, countries must first successfully conclude the negotiations and implementation of the AfCFTA Protocols must be carried out by each Partner State.

The MSMEs should therefore be positioned to take advantage of all the opportunities and expected gains from the AfCFTA.

MSMEs joining Trade Associations in Partner States

Dealing with NTBs in the EAC

Cross Border Trade

  • Cross Border Trade refers to movement of goods and services across international borders;
  • Cross Border Trade is conducted by; individuals, firms, or countries;
  • Cross border trade is categorized into formal and informal trade;
  • Formal Cross Border Trade is conducted by legally registered traders/firms who fulfil the customs documentation and procedural requirements to cross the border;
  • Informal Cross Border Trade is movement of goods between neighboring countries conducted by unregistered small-scale traders;
  • Unrecorded business transaction operating outside the formal economy;
  • Cross Border Trade in goods is governed by EAC Customs Union Protocol, whereas, Cross Border Trade in services is administered by EAC Common Market Protocol;

Advantages of Cross Border Trade in the Community

  • It is a source of employment and income for traders;
  • Cross border trade promotes food security;
  • Contributes to GDP growth at national level; and
  • Contributes to poverty alleviation.

Dealing with Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs)

The EAC Elimination of NTBs Act 2017 is a legal framework that provides for elimination of NTBs in the Community. It defines NTBs as “… laws, regulations, administrative and technical requirements other than tariffs imposed by a Partner State, whose effect is to impede trade.”

The Legal mandate to eliminate NTBs in the Community is anchored on:

  • Article 75 (1) (c) of the Treaty for establishment of the East African Community;
  • Article 13 (1) of the EAC Customs Union Protocol provides ... “each of the Partner States agrees to remove, with immediate effect, all the existing non-tariff barriers to the importation into their respective territories of goods originating in the other Partner States and, thereafter, not to impose any new non-tariff barriers;
  • Article 13 (2) of the EAC Customs Union Protocol further provides that “Partner States shall formulate a mechanism for identifying and monitoring the removal of non-tariff barriers.”

NTBs are reported by traders or Partner States to the National Focal Person who coordinates the National Monitoring Committee for elimination of NTBs in a Partner State.

In East African Community, NTBs are eliminated at Technical and Policy Levels

Technical Level

  • National Monitoring Committee on NTBs;
  • Regional Monitoring Committee on NTBs;
  • EAC Time Bound Programme (a mechanism for identifying, reporting and removing NTBs in the Community).

Policy Level

  • Sectoral Committee on Trade;
  • Committee on Customs;
  • East African Standards Committee;
  • Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment;
  • Dedicated Sessions of Permanent Secretaries/ Principal Secretaries/ Under Secretaries and Ministers/ Cabinet Secretaries responsible for EAC Affairs and Trade
  • Bilateral Meetings;
  • Council of Ministers; and
  • The EAC Summit of Heads of State.

Partner States should remove all the existing NTBs and, thereafter, not to impose any new ones.

Requirements for Formalizing Business in EAC

Acquiring the Standards Mark in EAC

Standards are a tool for measuring quality, a basis for third party certification, mutual recognition of test reports and quality marks, promoting fair trade, measure against dumping and protection of consumer health safety and environment.

Harmonization of standards, conformity assessment procedures and measurement systems facilitate intra EAC trade, value addition, innovation and private sector competitiveness. Awareness of Standardization, Quality Assurance and Metrology (SQMT) activities is therefore desirable in realizing the desired objectives of the Customs Union, Common Market and forms a basis towards achieving EAC drive to buy East African to build East Africa sustainably.

Awareness, access, knowledge and skills especially by the MSMEs to partake and benefit from SQMT activities is limited and the symposium will provide a platform for creating awareness to various MSMEs sectors on the role of standards and conformity assessments systems in product development unlocking the vast market opportunities for their products nationally, regionally and internationally.

Benefits of Value Addition and Adaptation to Appropriate Technology for MSMEs in EAC

Environment and Food Security in the EAC



2023 TRADE FAIR HIGHLIGHTS

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  Welcome Message

H.E Evariste Ndayishimiye
President of the Republic of Burundi

  LIVE: TRADE FAIR COVERAGE

icon link  TRADE FAIR QUICK INFO

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icon link  PRESS RELEASES

icon link  2021 TRADE FAIR CATALOGUE

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icon link  2023 TRADE FAIR GALLERY

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plans  PLANNED ACTIVITIES

Cultural Performances
Art Exhibitions
Cultural Market Place
Symposium
Childrens' games
Food Market and Exhibition

 

 



 


East African Community
EAC Close
Afrika Mashariki Road
P.O. Box 1096
Arusha
United Republic of Tanzania

Tel: +255 (0)27 216 2100
Fax: +255 (0)27 216 2190
Email: eac@eachq.org