RTFP



Features

Guest writers comment on trade in southern Africa.

Regional Infrastructure Gains Ground in SADC

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A renewed commitment to regional infrastructure in SADC is apparent and a host of programmes are being developed. John Rocha looks at what is happening and ways to improve the project pipeline


The real business of regional integration

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Greg Mills looks at the case of Rwanda in analysing the root causes of high transport and trade costs across Africa's borders


Kazungula Bridge

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Dianna Games considers if improved infrastructure alone will help the region's traders


Southern Africa and the Doha Development Round - where to from here?

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Brendan Vickers takes a look at the recent developments.


East African Business Council (EABC)



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Charles Mbogori (left) Executive Director of EABC escorts the Hon Dr Kamala, Tanzanian Minister for East Africa Cooperation and Hon Beatrice Kiraso, Deputy Secretary General of EAC into the regional meeting at which the results of the Preference Erosion study were discussed.
Support to the EABC has been provided by DFID East Africa in the past but when that phase came to an end this year, RTFP agreed to provide technical and financial support to fill the gap until the new programme was approved.

As at August 2008 the major activity has been the financing of a set of studies, one of which looked at the costs and benefits to the private sector of the EAC Customs Union and Free Trade Area. (Executive Summary: Impact of the CU on businesses)

A Preference Erosion study on Tanzania was also undertaken to complete Preference Erosion studies on each of the EAC countries (the studies of the other countries having been done by RTFP for COMESA).

Finally, a survey of 12 borders and 2 ports in the EAC region was undertaken to establish the challenges faced by the business community when passing through them. The consultant who led that work also participated in a meeting held in Nairobi to disseminate the results of the studies for all the EAC countries. (Executive Summary: Border Survey)

The studies are extensively detailed with such encouraging statistics as 77% of companies in Uganda; 73% in Kenya and 46% in Tanzania reporting the free movement of goods as having been a boost to business. However, it must be noted that inputs from the EAC account for only 15% of the total in the domestic production chain and businesses predominantly import from the rest of the world.

In terms of concrete results from the studies, a major NTB had been regional_group_photo_EABCreported to be the extensive presence of police road blocks on the main transport corridors. However, EABC has reported that as a result of the meetings which were held to disseminate the study results, several countries in the region have started removing the barriers. Furthermore, in Kenya the President has directed that the Port of Mombasa and all border crossings should be operational 24 hours a day. In addition the numerous weigh bridges in Kenya have been reduced to 2: one in Mombasa and another one at Malaba.

RTFP financed a national meeting of the private sector in each of the EAC countries as well as an overall regional meeting to disseminate the results of the studies. A brochure was also produced and distributed during the Tripartite COMESA-EAC-SADC Summit in Kampala and a lunch hosted for the Heads of State to appreciate the private sector involvement in deepending regional integration.

The EABC is also closely involved in the studies on the Service Sector (referred to under EAC) with RTFP support.

 

 

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