East African Community, Mwanza, Tanzania, 6th December, 2021: The EAC Secretary General Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki said Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) play a crucial role in the economic development of East African countries, accounting for 90% of businesses and 80% of employment especially among youth and women.
Speaking during the official opening of the 21stMSMEs Trade Fair at Rock City Grounds, Mwanza, United Republic of Tanzania, Dr. Mathuki reiterated that EAC Partner States still have a critical role in enabling MSMEs growth to ensure long term sustainability and recovery by promoting programs that prioritise MSMEs to spur demand for quality finished goods and progressively improve the region’s competitiveness.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 16th November, 2021: The East African Community is making strides in conforming to trading requirements under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), with plans underway to finalize the EAC Tariff Offer.
The EAC Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (SCTIFI) has directed the EAC Secretariat to convene meetings with experts, by 15th December 2021, to finalize the EAC Tariff Offer.
The EAC Tariff Offer currently stands at 85.86% against the AfCFTA modalities of 90%.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 12th November, 2021: East African Community Partner States have been called upon to expedite the comprehensive review of the EAC Common External Tariff (CET) in order to promote trade and industrialization in the region.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Trade and Industrialization, Ms. Betty Maina, said that the failure to conclude the review of the CET, which started in 2016, was providing leeway to products from other parts of the world to flood the EAC Common Market at the region’s expense.
Ms. Maina said that conclusion of the EAC CET would enable the region to trade more with itself in addition to promoting the growth of domestic industries in East Africa.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 8th November, 2021: A five-day meeting of the Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (SCTIFI) is currently underway via hybrid (physical and virtual) means.
The SCTIFI meeting kicked-off with the Session of Senior Officials that is expected to conclude on Wednesday, 10th November, 2021. Among the items on the agenda of the SCTIFI are the: Status of Implementation of the Previous Decisions of SCTIFI; Report of the Sectoral Committee on Customs; Report of the Sectoral Committee of Trade; and; Report on Competition Matters.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 2nd November, 2021: Preparations for the 21st Edition of the East African Community Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair popularly known as the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition, are in high gear.
The 21st edition of the annual EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition, which will be held under the theme “Promoting Quality and Innovation to enhance EAC MSMEs Competitiveness and post COVID -19 Recovery’, is expected to attract over 1,500 artisans from the six EAC Partner States, namely the Republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and the host country United Republic of Tanzania.
… over 2,000 participants from both public and private sector officials expected to attend
East African Community, Istanbul, Turkey 20th October, 2021:The upcoming 3rd Africa-Turkey Economic and Business Forum that will be held in Istanbul, Turkey from 21st to 22nd October, 2021 will increase the flow of investment and business opportunities between Turkey and Africa.
Speaking ahead of the forum in Istanbul, the EAC Director General-Customs and Trade, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, said that more than 2,000 from public and private sector players are expected to attend the forum, which is aimed at promoting and increase trade and investment between Africa and Turkey.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 21st September, 2021: The East African Community (EAC) Secretary General, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, urged the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat to adapt an integration approach that is people-centred, market-driven and private sector-led, to ensure African citizens benefit from the continental agreement.
Speaking in Accra, Ghana, during the 1st coordination meeting of Heads of Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on the implementation of the AfCFTA, Dr.Mathuki noted, AfCFTA, with a promising market of around 1.3 billion consumers and a GDP of 3.4 trillion US dollars, promises to unlock many opportunities beneficial to African's citizens.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 11th September, 2021: EAC Secretary General Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki has hailed the Republic of Burundi and the United Republic of Tanzania for ratifying the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA).
Burundi ratified the AfCFTA on 17th June, 2021 while Tanzania on 9th September, 2021.
Hon. Mathuki said that the AfCFTA would allow East Africans to access a large continental market and increase EAC’s exports to African countries outside the bloc.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 30th August, 2021: A two-day East African Community (EAC) workshop aimed at enhancing the participation of women in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) opened on Monday.
Speaking during the opening session of the workshop, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of the Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, said that traders in Africa especially women, youth and SMEs face significant challenges when attempting to benefit from multilateral and regional trade agreements as many trade agreements do not include their specific needs and concerns.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 28th July, 2021: The Republic of Burundi has launched her own Trade Information Portal which is meant to map out all her imports, exports and transit procedures, fees and time. The next step after mapping will be to simplify and remove unnecessary and redundant bottlenecks.
Trade Information Portals (TIPS) have already been launched and operationalised by Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
