Rt. Hon Alitwala Rebecca Kadaga, the Minister of East African Community Affairs (EAC) has reiterated her commitment towards championing the elimination of non-tariff barriers that have slowed down the growth of trade across the seven East African partner states.
“This year, I have faith that intra-trade will grow higher following Kenya’s lift of import bans on eggs and milk from Uganda, I thank H.E William Ruto who I met recently for making sure that there is smooth transaction between our two countries without hiccups,” Kadaga explained.
Confident Kadaga also assured that the pending issues under the customs union protocol with some partner states are being discussed and handled simultaneously in the council of Ministers meetings and soon enough they will be a talk of the past.
“I am optimistic that the Republic of South Sudan will implement the East African Community (EAC) protocols and commitments such as the ratification of the African Continental Free trade Area as reporters of the community” she added.
The Kamuli District legislator also the 1st Deputy Prime Minister made these remarks while officiating the East African Business Council (EABC) breakfast meeting and flagging off Private Sector ambassadors in Kampala on Friday.
Kadaga in this meeting also emphasized the need for sensitization of SMEs across the member states as this will help them avoid un necessary penalties.
“Despite information being available, Entrepreneurs continue to bypass the law while transporting their goods across borders. It’s important that we sensitize them more and also assist them to improve the value of their products” she asserted.
The Emeritus of the 9th and 10th Parliament of Uganda also called upon the East African Business Council to support women cross-border traders and SMEs by raising their awareness about trade procedures and opportunities in the East African Community bloc.
In her remarks, Angelina Ngalula the chairperson of East African Business Council highlighted the need to champion the liberalization of air transport services, harmonization of domestic taxes in the region and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the EAC SMEs charter.
“There have been several discussions related to the use of national IDs in free movement across member states for many years, this hasn’t yet transpired, we need to urgently settle it soon” Angelina added.
Ngalula also appreciated the government of Uganda for steering higher in the EAC and continental integration agenda such as the bilateral trade opportunities in the Tanzania- Uganda oil project and re-opening up of borders.
John Bosco Kalisa the Chief Executive Officer of the EABC noted that the intra-EAC trade has registered positive growth despite global shocks and she commended Hon. Kadaga for her deep commitment to steer intra-EAC trade growth and solving the non- tariff barrier on rice imports from Tanzania into Uganda.
He however noted that though there is a positive growth registered, there still a number of issues at hand that are hindering regional trade within the member states.
“Currently it is very expensive to travel within the region because our leaders are still protecting their small markets and it can’t work like that. We need to ensure that we get for example a regional airline if we are to solve this problem” Kalisa articulated.
Uganda officially inaugurated its newly appointed EABC goodwill ambassadors that included Mr. Jim Mwine Kabeho, Dr. Merian Sebunya, Ms Olive Kigongo and Mr. Charles Kabera.
