Arusha, Tanzania: March 19, 2017 - The
East African Business Council, the apex body of the private sector through its
Standards Platform validated the study on “Impact Assessment of the East African
Harmonized Standards on the business community” 17th
March 2017 at Imperial Royale Hotel, in Kampala Uganda.
The validation workshop attracted
several stakeholders both private and public from the EAC region who were informed about the ongoing
EAC harmonization process of standards and the rationale of the study that was
being validated.
The workshop was opened by
the EABC Chief Executive Officer, Lilian Awinja who called upon stakeholders to
take keen interest in the harmonization of standards within the region and
urged the EAC Secretariat and Partner States Bureaus of Standards to fast truck
the process of standards harmonization.
“The Private sector needs
to show the cost benefit of harmonization” said Mr. Mosses Ogwal from EABC National Focal Point Uganda
(Private Sector Foundation Uganda)
According to the report
intra EAC export of products with East
African standards increased by 17% which
is evidence that compliance with standards and market requirements are fundamental for successful market access and for
improving the competitiveness of exporters” stated. Lilian Awinja, EABC CEO.
The Deputy Executive
Director, Uganda National Bureau of Standards noted that there is faster adoption
rate of East African standards due to improved participation of private sector
in standards harmonization process. She further urged that private sector should
to take note of the gaps highlighted by the study and build synergy to resolve
them.
“More trade means more
employment opportunities for EAC citizens” said Dennis Kabbale EAC Trade
Advisor.
The study focused on six
products out of the 20 most traded products identified by the EABC study of
2013 in terms of cost, time and trade values. The results indicate that the use
of harmonized standards in the region to produce the selected sampled products improved
competitiveness and market access that contributed to increment in the
intra-EAC trade values of the sampled products from US$291.2 million in 2010 to
US$ 340.4 million in 2014 which is an increment of 17% while extra EAC exports increased
by 12%. Furthermore “Standards related cost due to the delays at the borders
have also reduced to almost zero compared to an average of US$ 500 per
consignment before standards were harmonized,” the report states.
The private sector noted
that there is lack of full recognition of quality marks from other National
Bureau of Standards is a challenge to full implementation of harmonized
standards. The study also highlights other challenges facing the standards
harmonization process as: inadequate resources and scientific data; high cost
of compliance; long processes developing harmonization and review of EA
standards which result into use of national standards.
During the closing of the
workshop stakeholders commended the EABC for the spearheading the private
sector on issues of standards development and harmonization the in the EAC and thus
urged EABC to continue advocating for faster harmonization of standards in the EAC.
About East African
Business Council
The East
African Business Council (EABC) is the apex body of business associations of
the Private Sector and Corporates from the 5 East African Countries. It was
established in 1997 to foster the interests of the Private Sector in the
integration process of the East African Community. For more information
about EABC, visit its website at www.eabc.info.
For more information please contact:
Ms. Lilian
Awinja – Chief Executive Officer
The
East African Business Council (EABC) - The
Voice of Private Sector in East Africa
P. O. Box 2617 | Plot No. 01
| Olorien House | Perfect Printers Street | Arusha | Tanzania
Tel: +255
(27) 2543047 Fax: +255 272543047 Cell +255
758 124 318
Email:
info@eabc-online.com
Website: www.eabc.info
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