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Tag: EAC

  • East African Community Secretariat hosts Groundbreaking Public-Private Dialogue on Mobility of Business Persons

    East African Community Secretariat hosts Groundbreaking Public-Private Dialogue on Mobility of Business Persons

    Kampala: The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, in partnership with the EU- EAC CORE Programme, has held the inaugural Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) on Mobility of Business Persons, which took place from September 11 to 12, 2025, in Kampala, Uganda under the theme: Seamless Borders, Shared Prosperity: Advancing the Free Movement of Service Suppliers in the EAC.

    This landmark event convened Public and Private Sector Representatives, specifically immigration authorities and representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Ministries of Trade, Labour organizations, Service sector regulators, and representatives from service sector Business entities across all EAC
    Partner States. The dialogue aimed to create a dynamic platform for public and private sector stakeholders to collaboratively address longstanding barriers to cross-border mobility and develop actionable solutions
    that drive regional integration and economic growth.

    A Region on the Move: Overcoming Barriers Together

    The EAC Common Market Protocol, a cornerstone of regional integration, guarantees the free movement of persons, labour, services, and capital. While intra-EAC trade in services has grown by 12% over the past five years, the number of professionals able to move and work across borders remains below 30,000
    annually—less than 0.01% of the region’s skilled workforce.

    Despite Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) in engineering, accountancy, and architecture, implementation remains uneven. Only 40% of eligible professionals successfully utilize these MRAs to work in another Partner State.

    Key Challenges for Governments
    Advancing Mode IV movement (temporary movement of service suppliers) requires governments to address several critical challenges:

    Immigration and Security: Balancing openness with national security requires robust systems for identity verification, data sharing, and background checks.

    Labour Market Protection: Safeguarding local employment while avoiding excessive restrictions that could stifle growth and innovation.

    Recognition of Qualifications: Addressing gaps in the mutual recognition of professional and academic qualifications to prevent underemployment and skills mismatch.
    Administrative and Regulatory Complexity: Streamlining processes, integrating digital solutions, and establishing single-window systems to reduce delays and inconsistencies.
    Limited Awareness and Communication: Enhancing outreach, user-friendly information portals, and capacity-building initiatives to ensure professionals and businesses are aware of their rights and opportunities.

    The Way Forward
    With the invaluable support of partners—including the European Union Delegation through the EU-EAC CORE Programme—the EAC Secretariat is committed to working closely with Partner States to overcome
    these challenges. This Public–Private Dialogue will provide a unique opportunity for business leaders, government officials, and regulators to share experiences and co-create practical solutions for business mobility.

    Participants also explored international best practices, drawing lessons from successful models such as the European Union’s “Points of Single Contact” (PSC) system and the APEC Business Travel Card (ABTC). The goal is to design a tailored solution that addresses the specific needs of the EAC’s liberalized service sectors, including education, finance, communications, business services, and transport—sectors vital for job creation, economic growth and societal well-being.

    A Strong Partnership: The EU-EAC CORE Programme

    The EU-EAC CORE Programme stands as a testament to the power of international cooperation in advancing regional integration. By providing technical and financial support from the European Union Delegation, the Programme is instrumental in strengthening the EAC’s capacity to implement the Common
    Market Protocol and foster a more competitive, innovative, and inclusive economy. The EU-EAC CORE Programme’s unwavering commitment to removing barriers and promoting the free movement of services and professionals is helping to unlock new opportunities for businesses and citizens across the
    EAC. This partnership exemplifies how shared values and strategic collaboration can drive sustainable development, prosperity, and unity across borders.

    “Seamless movement of business persons is not just a policy aspiration; it is a catalyst for innovation, job creation, and shared prosperity across East Africa,” said Ms Annette Ssemuwemba, Deputy Secretary
    General of the East African Community.

    “This dialogue marks a pivotal step towards breaking down barriers and unlocking the full potential of our region’s service sectors. We are especially grateful for the support
    of the EU-EAC CORE Programme, whose partnership is vital to realizing these ambitions. We invite all stakeholders to join us in shaping a more integrated and prosperous EAC.”
    The EAC Secretariat invites all Partner States stakeholders, business leaders, and development partners to actively participate in this pioneering dialogue. Together, we can build seamless borders and shared prosperity for the entire East African region.

  • Uganda-DRC Business Forum Enhance Trade Opportunities

    Uganda-DRC Business Forum Enhance Trade Opportunities

    KINSHASA— Entrepreneurs from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and beyond are set to convene in Kinshasa a major business summit, announced organizers that also include the Ugandan Embassy in DRC.

    The Uganda-DRC Business Forum, now in its second edition, will be held starting 22-25 March at Fleuva Congo Hotel.

    The Forum will gather up to 150 participants consisting of businesspeople from Uganda and their DRC counterparts along with Government officials of both countries, as well as key business stakeholders from the two countries.

    Commenting about the much sought-after business forum, His Lordship Gentiny Ngobila, the Governor of the City-Province of Kinshasa reiterated that the Forum is timely and the environment is conducive.

    “It is time to break the barriers and fast-track trade links among ourselves; it is high time for our private sectors to harness and unlock the full potential of the existing business opportunities. City-to-city cooperation is also timely. I will personally grace the forum and look forward to seeing the Uganda Business Community in Kinshasa, Bienvenue.”

    In a meeting with Dr. Edith Namutebi Nsubuga, the Charge d’affaires of the Embassy of Uganda in Kinshasa, His Lordship Gentiny Ngobila who has been to Kampala and   Arua cities said added:

    “I love Uganda and make frequent trips to Kampala. I have been to Kabale, Arua and I love the cool breeze in Entebbe. I enjoy the fresh fish from Lake Victoria”.

    It is worth recalling that Kinshasa is a megalopolitan city with a population of 15,628,000 (2022 est.) and is one of the largest cities in Africa.

    It is a secure city with hospitable and lively people. Although the cost of living is high, commodities are abundant and accessible from local markets, chain supermarkets, and retail shops. The construction industry is booming which is an indication of relative stability, and one can be tempted to call it a construction hub.

    The forum being spearheaded by the Ugandan Embassy in Kinshasa, DRC government, and supported by private actors including DRC-Uganda Business Association, an umbrella association of traders is aimed at building spurring bilateral trade between Kampala and Kinshasa as both countries look up to each other for investment opportunities.

    The business forum will be hosted under the theme: Growing Business and Trade between DRC and Uganda through Deepening Bilateral Trade, Partnerships, Knowledge Transfer for Mutual Peace and Prosperity.

    The other areas of the forum’s focus will include promoting trade between the two countries through sharing information on improved trade facilitation, enhanced trade in goods and services as well as investment opportunities.

    The forum will offer a platform for sharing the rich business potential that exists between the two neighboring countries and exploring ways of economically leveraging from the cordial bilateral relations that have been heightened by continuous engagements at the highest level.

    Written By H.E. Gentiny Ngobila, Governor of Kinshasa Province.

  • Uganda harmonizing cocoa standards to facilitate trade in EAC

    Uganda harmonizing cocoa standards to facilitate trade in EAC

    Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA) in collaboration with Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) hosted the national expert technical committee to discuss the draft East African Standards for Cocoa and related products.

    The national technical committee is supported under the European Union and East African Community Market Access Upgrade Programme (EU-EAC MARKUP).
    The main objective for the EU-EAC MARKUP is to contribute to the EAC’s economic development through boosting trade and regional integration with a specific objective of improving EU and regional market access for EAC countries in selected sub-sectors such as coffee, tea, cocoa, horticulture and spices.

    In Uganda, the MARKUP project priority commodities are cocoa and coffee.
    “The national technical committee shall formulate working drafts of East African Standards for Cocoa and related products.
    The drafts shall then be presented to stakeholders for consultations to form Uganda’s position in the harmonization of cocoa and related standards at the EAC Level,” says Ms. Pamela Akwap, UNBS Senior Standards Officer.

    “The reason for harmonization of standards is to promote uniformity across the EAC. This will make it easy for Uganda to trade in cocoa and related products within the EAC partner states and outside the East Africa region. In addition, the standardization will ensure that cocoa and its products are safe for consumption.” The participants discussed drafts for harmonization of standards on cocoa beans, cocoa powder and cocoa powder mixtures, cocoa butter and chocolates.

    The Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) representative at the consultative meeting, Mr. Francis Enaru, who is the Principal MSME Officer – Quality Assurance and Standardization said the committee discussed working draft standards with different stakeholders including UCDA (the EU-EAC MARKUP implementing partner in Uganda), UNBS, MTIC, manufacturers, traders, academia and consumers. He stressed that standards are very important as they help to facilitate trade.

    While addressing participants at the meeting, the UCDA Managing Director, Dr. Emmanuel Iyamulemye, appreciated the committee’s contributions in harmonization of the standards in the cocoa sector.

    Dr. Emmanuel Lyamulemye Niyibigira, Managing Director Uganda Coffee Development Authority (UCDA)

    “The development of these standards will feed into a regulatory framework for cocoa which is being developed after a Regulatory Impact Assessment was done last year,” Dr. Iyamulemye says.

    Dr. Iyamulemye encouraged the participants to take the example of other producing countries and do the right thing for the cocoa sub sector. He emphasized that while it is important to have good quality cocoa, it is equally important to ensure that the right standards are in place for packaging, sealing and handling.

    The UCDA MD also commended the EU-EAC MARKUP for supporting the process.

    “Thanks to the EU-EAC MARKUP project we are now looking to increase market access to European markets,” Dr. Iyamulemye says.
    The requirements stated in the standards are based on East African best practices and international standards which will ensure that Uganda cocoa is marketable and its products are competitive on the regional and world markets.