East African Business Council

The AU commissioned a Study to identify the challenges and opportunities for ratifying and implementing the Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the #AfricanEconomicCommunityRelating to #FreeMovementofPersons, #RightofResidence, and #RightofEstablishment (the AU FMP). I was glad to participate in a consultation meeting and sit on a panel on behalf of the East African Business Council. It was an honor to represent the private sector in this forum. The AU FMP was adopted in January 2018 and signed by 32 Member States. To date 4 Member States have ratified the AU FMP and 11 more Member States need to ratify the AU FMP for it to enter into force. The AU FMP is interlinked with the AU’s top integration initiatives, notably the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and will reinforce its achievements. The movement of people across borders is essential for trade, investment, and social and economic development. The AU FMP is a flagship project of Agenda 2063, which calls for the free movement of people as part of its drive for continental integration, development, and prosperity. An integrated Africa is expected to boost poverty reduction, skills development, knowledge sharing, and remittances that will be used to invest in education, health, and homes. In 2023, #Rwanda, #Benin, #TheGambia, and #Seychelles, offered #visafreeentry to citizens of the rest of Africa. Also, 48 countries offer #visafreeentry privileges to the citizens of at least one other country while 33 countries offer visa-free travel to at least 10 countries. Our own Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya now recognize each other's National IDs which is a significant step. More enviable are the #ECOWAS states which have gone a step further to establish a Regional Economic Community card called the ECOWAS ID that allows free movement across all ECOWAS Borders. While many voiced concerns as to security and standardization, it was a consensus that the FMP will be the backbone of the ACFTA and that African nations need to prioritize it if a Common Market is to be realized. It was also agreed that the private sector is a key player and should be involved because it stands to gain the most and can allocate resources and provide data for the decision-makers in this effort. Key among these are the youth and women who are the greatest beneficiaries or sometimes victims of FMPs or their lack thereof! Simon Kaheru Adrian Njau Jaswinder (Jas) Bedi, EBS, MBS.ANGELINA NGALULA Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) African UnionPan African Lawyers Union TradeMark Africa

🎉 Happy Union Day Tanzania! 🇹🇿💫 On this special day, the East African Business Council (EABC) joins in commemorating the historic union of the People's Republic of Zanzibar and the Republic of Tanganyika, which formed the United Republic of Tanzania on April 26th, 1964. 🌟 May this Union Day be a celebration of a unity for common purpose - peace + improved livelihoods + economic growth. The Union brought down colonial borders increasing trade and investment for prosperity of the citizens. Happy Union Day to all Tanzanians! 🎉

🛳️🛣️ FREIGHT COST FROM CHINA TO MOMBASA AND DAR ES SALAAM AT USD 2188 AND USD 1975 RESPECTIVELY. Thursday, 25th April 2025: The East African Business Council (EABC) webinar on corridor performance and its impact on EAC businesses underscores the importance of public-private dialogue and trade facilitation agencies in ensuring the efficiency of transport corridor performance. The webinar revealed that the average Freight Cost in 2023 from China to the Port of Mombasa and Dar es Salaam for a 20ft container is USD 2188 and USD 1975 respectively. Officiating the webinar, Ag. Secretary-General of the East African Community, Annette Semuwemba Mutawe, stated that the operationalization of the EAC Single Customs Territory and 15 one-stop border posts has reduced border delays and trade costs for businesses. She applauded the EAC Heads of States for their deep commitment to infrastructure development to increase competitiveness, trade, and economic development of the bloc. She revealed that the EAC Heads of State Retreat on Infrastructure is set to take place this year. In his remarks, Mr. John Bosco Kalisa, EABC Executive Director, stated, "Transport corridors are the lifelines that connect landlocked countries to major seaports, boosting intra-regional trade and fostering economic development." He highlighted inadequate transport connectivity and non-tariff barriers impacting transit time and corridor performance. Mr. Kalisa called for Public-Private Dialogue to improve competitiveness and efficiency of EAC transport corridor performance. In her presentation on the East Africa Logistic Performance Index, Miss Pauline Ukwalu from the Shippers Council of East Africa (SCEA) stated that in 2023, road transport rates per container per km from Mombasa to Nairobi, Kampala, Kigali, Goma, and Juba were (USD) 1.88, 1.97, 2.50, 3.0, and 2.60 respectively. The high cost of road rates against the global benchmark of 1 USD results in a high cost of doing business in the EAC, impacting investment. She explained that the Average Ship Turnaround Time at The Port of Mombasa is high at 79 hours, above the global benchmark of 24 hours. In 2022, the transit time to Busia and Malaba was 77 hours and 80 hours respectively. This is against the Mombasa Port and Northern Corridor Charter target of 40 hours and 45 hours from Mombasa to Malaba and Mombasa to Busia respectively. Mr. Emmanuel Rutagengwa from the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) stated that Dar es Salaam Port efficiency enhancements have resulted in Ship turn-around time reduced from 7 to 2.5 days, Cargo dwell time decreased from 22 to less than 7 days, Truck turn-around time shortened from 4.3 to 2.3 hours, and Cargo throughput raised from 13.6M tonnes in 2016 to 24.0M tonnes in 2023. He stated Central Corridor Standard Gauge Railway Programme aims to actualize the Tanzania-Burundi-DRC extension as well as Isaka-Kigali SGR extension. Mr. Denis Lewa Muganga from the Nort

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💫🚺 African Women's Business Conference Emphasizes Economic Empowerment Today, Wednesday, March 27, 2024. East African Business Council (EABC) Executive Director Mr. John Bosco Kalisa Joined other High-level speakers Dr. Armany Asfour Chief Executive Officer of the African Business Council (AFBC) and Mrs. Tokunbo Chiedu Compass Global CEO, and Delivered the keynote remarks at the African Women's Business Conference *Themed:* Leveraging the Power of Strategic Partnerships and Collaborations to Reimagine Possibilities, He addressed women's economic empowerment, underlining the need to collaborate and build a strong partnership to achieve a win-win situation. Key highlights included: : ➡️ Calling for enhanced access to critical trade and business information for women. ➡️ Emphasizing the significance of trust and honesty in business dealings. ➡️ Encouraging the expansion of networks and fostering collaboration among women entrepreneurs. ➡️ Emphasizing the integration of digital innovations and technologies into women's businesses. ➡️ Urging policymakers to create conducive economic policies for women's active participation. ➡️ Advocating for increased capital access for women engaging in cross-border trade. The conference echoed Kalisa's sentiments, highlighting a collective commitment to advancing women's economic prosperity through collaborative efforts and inclusive policies. By EABC Team

✨ EABC inaugurates the 1st Regional Steering Committee (RSC) for the Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP) II in Arusha. The East African Business Council (EABC) participated in the 1st Regional Steering Committee for MARKUP II. The programme aims to drive the economic development of the EAC through increased sustainable intra-African and EU Africa trade. In collaboration with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, the International Trade Centre (ITC), and the European Union, EABC's MARKUP II initiative seeks to address challenges faced by MSMEs, particularly concerning low awareness of export procedures, food safety, standards, and high compliance costs. In his opening remarks Mr. John Bosco Kalisa, CEO of EABC, underscored the significance of the initiative, emphasizing the pressing challenges faced by MSMEs and the collaborative effort to address them. He highlighted the program's aim to foster sustainable growth and job creation by reducing trade barriers, increasing awareness, and establishing market linkages across various sectors. Key focus areas include enhancing market access and export competitiveness for MSMEs in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, and Uganda, across value chains such as coffee, tea, cocoa, fruits, vegetables, and essential oils. Under the previous MARKUP I initiative, EABC successfully developed the Private Sector Self-Regulation Framework for Coffee, Fresh Fruits, Vegetables, and Coffee in 2023, promoting adherence to safety standards and enhancing competitiveness in international and regional markets. EABC reaffirms its commitment to organizing regional engagements, promoting quality compliance and standards, facilitating value chain reviews, and fostering export opportunities for MSMEs. The launch of MARKUP II signifies a continued partnership between EABC, the EAC, ITC, and the European Union to drive economic development and create tangible and sustainable results for MSMEs in East Africa. By EABC Team

I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as Senior Director, Public Affairs, Communications & Sustainability - East & Central Africa at The Coca-Cola Company!