Ugandan trade minister urges EAC states to remove non-tariff barriers

NAIROBI, Kenya — Uganda’s Minister of State for Trade, Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, urged the eight East African Community partner states to eliminate all non-tariff barriers to facilitate seamless regional trade.

Mbadi made the remarks during Uganda Day celebrations at the 25th EAC Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises trade fair, held at Uhuru Gardens in Nairobi.

The fair was themed “25 Years of EAC Integration: Advancing Innovations and Regional Value Chains for Competitive MSMEs Towards Sustainable Development,” and drew more than 3,000 exhibitors from across the EAC.

The minister expressed disappointment over the persistent existence of non-tariff barriers, noting the issue has contributed to low intra-regional trade, which stands at only 20% within the EAC. This contrasts sharply with the Southern African Development Community’s 46% and the European Union’s 65%. “If we cannot promote trade among ourselves, how can we benefit from the African Continental Free Trade Area?” Mbadi asked.

Mbadi encouraged the partner states to adhere more closely to the East African Treaty, specifically Article 7(c), which advocates for an export-led economy ensuring the free movement of goods, services, labor, capital, information and technology. He emphasized that allowing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to trade freely across the region is crucial for fostering unity and regional integration.

EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva echoed the sentiment, underscoring the need to improve the business environment for MSMEs and 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 said.

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 scheduling 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 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.

In a related address, Hon. James Nsababuturo, chairman of the Uganda Parliamentary Committee for EAC Affairs, urged EAC leaders to prioritize adding value to Africa’s natural resources to ensure the continent benefits more from its own wealth.

Bbira Bbosa, chairman of the Confederation of Micro and Small Enterprises Uganda Chapter, said 305 Ugandan exhibitors participated in the expo, showcasing products including agricultural goods, dairy, arts, crafts, textiles and leather.

Bbosa urged all host partner states to enhance publicity for such events to maximize their benefit to exhibitors.

Paul Ainebyona, of Pearl of Africa Cheese in Uganda’s Kyankwanzi District, described the Nairobi Expo as an excellent networking platform, reporting he sold most of his cheese and received several orders from potential buyers across the EAC region.