The Minister of State for Trade, Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, has urged the eight East African Community (EAC) Partner States to eliminate all existing non-tariff barriers and facilitate seamless trade among themselves.
Mbadi made these remarks during Uganda Day celebrations at the 25th EAC Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) trade fair, which took place at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi, Kenya.
Gen. Mbadi expressed disappointment over the continued existence of non-tariff barriers within the region, noting that this has contributed to the low intra-regional trade of only 20% within the EAC, compared to 46% in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and 65% in the European Union. “If we cannot promote trade among ourselves, how can we benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area?” Mbadi emphasized.
The minister encouraged the EAC Partner States to align more closely with the commitments outlined in the East African Treaty, particularly Article 7(c), which advocates for an export-led economy that ensures the free movement of goods, services, labor, capital, information, and technology.
He also stressed the importance of allowing MSMEs to trade freely across the region, a crucial step towards fostering unity and regional integration.
EAC Secretary General, Veronica Nduva, also underscored the need to improve the business environment for MSMEs, reaffirming the community’s commitment to enhancing trade facilitation. “Let us support one another, strengthen our value chains, remove the barriers, and trade effectively among ourselves,” Nduva urged.
Hon. Susan Auma Mangeni, Principal Secretary for Kenya’s State Department of MSME Development, highlighted the importance of helping East African MSMEs gain access to global markets. “While it’s essential to trade within the region, we must also empower our MSMEs to compete on the global stage,” she said. Mangeni proposed organizing the EAC MSMEs Trade Fair ahead of the EAC Heads of State Summit to ensure the event’s outcomes are integrated into the summit’s agenda.
Regina Ombam, Principal Secretary for the Kenya State Department for Trade, called on MSMEs to focus on scaling up their operations and transitioning into larger enterprises. She urged governments to support this transition through financing, capacity building, infrastructure development, and the removal of trade barriers.
Hon. James Nsababuturo, Chairperson of the Uganda Parliamentary Committee for EAC Affairs, encouraged EAC leaders to prioritize adding value to Africa’s natural resources, ensuring that the continent benefits more from its own resources instead of allowing developed nations to exploit them.
The Chairperson of the Confederation of Micro and Small Enterprises (CMSEO) Uganda Chapter, Bbira Bbosa, shared that 305 Ugandan exhibitors participated in this year’s EAC MSMEs Expo, showcasing a diverse range of products including agricultural goods, dairy, art, crafts, textiles, and leather. Bbosa urged all host Partner States to enhance publicity for such events to maximize their benefit to exhibitors.
Paul Ainebyona, from Pearl of Africa Cheese in Kyankwanzi District, described the Nairobi Expo as an excellent networking platform, noting that he had sold most of the cheese he brought with him and had received several orders from potential buyers across the EAC region.
