PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EABC and
Women in Business engages International Trade Centre on Increasing Intra-Regional
Trade and Promoting Access to the European Market
- EABC and EAWiBP ready to facilitate EAC business to seize the European Market
- Add value to products and access the European Market, EAC business urged
Arusha, Tanzania: June 20th,
2018: The
East African Business Council in collaboration with the East African Women in
Business Platform held a round table discussion with Ms. Arancha Gonzalez, Executive
Director of International Trade Centre (ITC), ahead of the official launch of
the Market Access Upgrade project (MARKUP) at the EAC Headquarters.
The round table offered the opportunity for Small and Medium
Enterprises (SMEs) as well as women in business to discuss on practical ways of
increasing market access of EAC products to Europe, reflect on the successes, challenges,
and impact of the ongoing EAC regional integration process to businesses.
The European Union offers market for EAC products such as coffee,
flowers, tobacco, tea, fish, vegetables and precious metal ores among others.
According to International Trade Centre, the EAC region exported goods worth
approx. USD. 2.5 billion in 2017 an increase of 8% in comparison with USD.2.3 billion
in 2016.
The discussions highlighted the importance of harmonization of
standards in the region, which the EABC has been taking lead in advocating on
behalf of the Private Sector in the region, to increase intra-EAC trade,
improve product quality and maintain competiveness in regional and
international markets.
“The EAC Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) protocol needs to be
ratified by all Partner States to address issues regarding food safety in the
region,” said Ms. Lilian Awinja, EABC Executive Director.
“To tap into the EU market the region needs to benchmark standards
with the ones of the European Union and East African products should meet the
requirements of the European consumers,” said Mr. Jean Baptiste, Director
Productive Sectors of the EAC.
“EABC efforts in advocating for the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers
such as road blocks, improvement of the transport network in the region and
simplification of border procedures has facilitated cross border trade and
improved the transport sector,” said Mr. Kake Dhaliwal, Former EABC Board
Director & Manager AVCO Investment.
Ms. Gonzalez urged the region to add value to products, align to
existing international Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures and standards,
improve trade facilitation, and strengthen connectivity all institutions that promote
trade as well as capitalize on the power of networks.
Ms. Nancy Gitonga, EAWiBP Regional Coordinator underscored the
importance of linking women in business to different market opportunities and
improving their skills through trainings.
“EAWiBP has successfully developed a contact database of 10,000
women in business in the EAC region,” noted Ms. Nancy Gitonga.
“ITC has made trade more
inclusive through the She Trade Program
by connecting together over one million women in business from different
countries,” said Ms. Gonzalez.
The round table attracted EABC and EAWiBP members working in
different sectors and sub sectors including:
technology, consultancy, transport, manufacturing, horticulture and
agro- processing, among others.
-END-
Notes to Editors
The East African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex
body of Private Sector associations and Corporates from the 6 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. Being the representative
of Private Sector associations in the region, EABC was granted observer status
in organs and activities of the East African Community (EAC). EABC therefore
participates in various sectoral meetings, meetings of the Coordination
Committee, the EAC Council of Ministers, and the Summit of the EAC Heads of
State; with a view to ensure, that the agenda of the Private Sector is well
articulated and received by the policy makers.
Vision: Borderless East Africa for business and
investment.
Mission: To promote sustainable Private
Sector-driven growth.
EABC
Membership is drawn from the six East African Partner States and is open to all
national and regional associations as well as Corporates with interest in the
EAC Integration process or operations in the region. At national level, EABC
activities are coordinated through the EABC National Focal Points, who are also
the national Private Sector umbrella bodies. These are: Federal Chamber of
Commerce and Industries Burundi (CFCIB), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA),
Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF), Tanzania Private Sector Foundation
(TPSF) and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).
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