The EABC-EASSI-TMA launched an EABC-TMA capacity building workshop to improve knowledge of over 50 women cross-border traders and youth on EAC simplified trade regime and exchange their experiences early this week  in Kigali-Rwanda

John Bosco Kalisa, CEO of EABC explained that during the EABC’s public-private dialogues with trade facilitation agencies at single border crossings, cross-border women traders requested the establishment of storage and childcare facilities, cross-border markets and Scarp Off Issuance Fees for the EAC Simplified Certificate of Origin to facilitate their daily work. He urged that the maximum cargo value threshold under the EAC simplified trade regime, which is USD 2,000, be raised to USD 5,000 so that more trade can take place.

“This EABC-TMA capacity building workshop will provide an update on the EAC Simplified Trade Regime and allow youth and women in cross-border trade to share their experiences on the usefulness of the trade regime. ” said John Bosco Kalisa, CEO of EABC.

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For his part, Mr. Dennis Karera, Vice President of the East African Business Council (EABC), said that EABC is committed to advocating for an effective East African Community (EAC) simplified trade regime for trade that reflects the realities on the ground. He cited the fact that more than 40,000 cross-border traders, mostly women, use the small barrier between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

He further urged the youth ambassadors and women cross-border traders to familiarize themselves with customs procedures and to pass on their knowledge to their counterparts in their associations and cooperatives after the capacity building sessions. He also urged governments to replicate the EAC’s simplified trade regime at the continental level under the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

In her remarks, Ms. Patience Mutesi, Country Director of TradeMark Africa (TMA) in Rwanda, said, ” TradeMark Africa is committed to improving infrastructure, border coordination and has piloted cross-border markets in Rubavu and Rusizi with amenities for women, which has greatly facilitated small-scale cross-border trade. She called for the EAC simplified certificate of origin to be issued free of charge across all EAC borders to women petty traders across borders.

Richard Niwenshuti, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said in his presentation that the Government of the Republic of Rwanda is committed to understanding the context of small-scale cross-border traders in order to formulate better policies and open up new market and trade opportunities as we move towards the African Continental Free Trade Area.

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Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TradeMark Africa.