Three African trade blocks have come up with two new projects aimed at increasing formal small-scale cross- border trade flows in the region, a spokesperson said on Tuesday.

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), the East Africa Community (EAC) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have come up with a 15-million-euro Regional Small-Scale Cross Border Trade Initiative and a 53-million-euro Trade Facilitation Project.

The projects are funded by the European Union (EU) under the 11th European Union Development Fund, Mwangi Gakunga, Head Corporate Communications at COMESA said in a statement.

He said the implementation of the two projects was expected to contribute to higher revenue collection for governments at the borders, increased security and improved incomes for traders.

The first project was designed to address challenges facing small-scale traders which include high transactions costs arising from delays at the border, high taxes and high transport costs, corruption and harassment.

According to the statement, the second project aims at increasing intra-regional trade flows of goods, persons and services by reducing the cost and delays of imports and exports at specific border posts.

This will be addressed through reduction of non-tariff barriers, implementation of digital free trade area, improvement of coordinated border management and liberalization of trade in services and free movement of persons.