Improving the quality of life of the people of East Africa is at the heart of the regional integration process. The State of East Africa Report 2013 emanates from the following three elements of the objectives, fundamental and operational principles in the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.

[vc_row][vc_column][rev_slider slidertitle="UGANDA ELECTRONIC SINGLE WINDOW PROJECT" alias="uganda-electronic-single-window-project" offset=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="Uganda Electronics Single Window Project" implementor="MINISTRY OF TRADE, INDUSTRY AND COOPERATIVES (MTIC) – Lead Coordinating Agency UGANDA REVENUE AUTHORITY (URA) – Lead Implementing Agency" target_group="Importers and Exporters" project_value="US$ 9,000,000" implementation_period="2015 - 2018" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="#url"]Uganda’s international trade business community must regularly prepare and submit large volumes of information and documents to governmental authorities to comply with import, export and transit-related regulatory requirements. Extensive documentation requirements and their associated compliance costs, constitute non – tariff barriers (NTBs), thus inhibiting the development of intra-regional and international trade. What: A national electronic single window, resolves the time and cost challenges and eliminates non-tariff barriers. In this case, UESW will link 22 government Ministries, Departments and Agencies thereby reducing transaction costs and time associated with processing select imports and exports documentation. How: TMA, with funding from the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA), is providing financial and technical assistance to the URA, as the lead implementing agency, and Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, as the lead coordinating agency, to support the implementation of the national electronic single window. Contact: Damali Ssali, Email; damali.ssali@tradermarkea.com Click here to learn more about One Stop Border Posts Program[/single_project_block_1][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id="desired-result"][vc_column][single_project_block_2 heading="Desired Results" image_1="42902" image_2="43387"]The Uganda Electronic Single Window (UESW) will lead to improved coordination and sharing of data amongst trade regulatory agencies. It will also reduce the time it takes to process import and export documents in Uganda.[/single_project_block_2][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id="project-insight"][vc_column][project_single_ele_3_container heading="More Project Insights." sub_heading="Projects Highlights From A Glance" slide_1="info access...

[vc_row][vc_column][rev_slider slidertitle="Single Window Information for Trade (SWIFT) – Zanzibar Food and Drugs Board" alias="single-window-information-for-trade-swift-zanzibar-food-and-drugs-board" offset=""][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="Single Window Information for Trade (SWIFT)" implementor="A number of single window projects will be implemented. Implementing organisations include: Kenya Shippers Council, Federation of East Africa Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA), Kenyan Transport Association (KTA), Tea Board of Kenya. Tanzania Bureau of Standards, Tanzania Food and Drug Authority. Uganda National Bureau of Standards, Uganda Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industries and Fisheries. Rwanda Bureau of Standards, Pharmacy and Poison Board, Ministry of Health Rwanda, Rwanda Development Board, Ministry of Agriculture Rwanda. " target_group="Importers and exporters in East Africa" project_value="US$ 4,614,777" implementation_period="2011 - 2014" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="#url"]Traders in the EAC can spend many days visiting multiple government agencies to obtain regulatory information permits, trade licenses and clearance certificates to enable them complete import and export processes. These delays increase the cost of doing business in East Africa. What: Public sector agencies in our target countries are developing an electronic single window which enables cross-border traders to access, apply for and submit regulatory documents at a single location. How: TradeMark Africa is providing financial and technical assistance to conduct the mapping exercise and build the IT infrastructure that will host the portals. Contact: Alban Odhiambo: alban.odhiambo@trademarkea.com Click here to learn more about One Stop Border Posts Program[/single_project_block_1][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_2 heading="Desired Results" image_1="42894" image_2="42892"]The single window will minimize time taken to complete standard import and export processes across the EAC, increase user- compliance with trade procedures, and decrease the time it...

This note outlines the approach taken by the Long Term Technical Assistance (LTTA) team of Trade Mark East Africa (TMA), implemented by Imani Development, within the Rwandan Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) to providing capacity building and technical assistance. The approach is built around an understanding that the Ministry of Trade, and specifically, the external trade department, is just one player in a broader network of actors required to develop evidence-based trade policy. A system geared toward good trade policy development includes technical leadership of the process, the ability to harness expertise and inputs from a range of stakeholders, and the ability to get to agreement at political level. The LTTA has therefore focused on strengthening the system rather than focusing on a single department or on individuals.

[vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="Increased Organizational Effectiveness: Provision of Video Conferencing equipment" implementor="East African Community Secretariat" target_group="East African Community" project_value="3.8 M" implementation_period="2012 - 2016" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="#url"]One of the major challenges faced by the Secretariat is the ability to communicate timely and effectively. This impinges on the quality of decisions made and the timeliness of the decision making process. Moreover, a large percentage of the EAC Secretariat budget cost of is associated with travel and transport across the Partner State in attending various meetings related to the development of the East African Region. What: As part of a broad institutional reform programme that is on-going, and particularly as part of the Secretary General’s drive to realise cost-efficiency gains in communication and decision-making, the Council approved the acquisition and installation of a Video Conferencing System (VCS) for the Community. It is expected that the system will not only improve efficiency in communication and decision-making, but it will also help the Secretariat realise significant savings in cost and time. Key outputs include:  Installation and operationalization of VC equipment at EAC Secretariat and Partner States;  Adoption of procedures and guidelines for management of the use of VC System; How: TMA will provide financial and technical assistance to support procurement, installation and operationalization of VC equipment at the EAC Secretariat and Partner States. Contact: Jason Kapkirwork, Email: Jason.kapkirwork@trademarkea.com Click here to learn more about One Stop Border Posts Program[/single_project_block_1][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id="desired-result"][vc_column][single_project_block_2 heading="Desired Results" image_1="42618" image_2="42620"]Improved communication to enhance timely and effective decision making process through provision...

[vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="Alternative System for Secure Transit (ASSET)" implementor="EAC Revenue authorities" target_group=" Revenue authorities Traders and clearing agents Financial Institutions Insurance companies " project_value="$3,461,378" implementation_period="2011 - 2014" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="#url"]Custom bonds are a guarantee required by revenue authorities that goods will exit the country as required and will not be consumed in transit countries to avoid taxes. These bonds are a heavy additional cost to the trader. A TMA commissioned impact assessment demonstrated that switching from national bond schemes to ASSET could have saved $209,000,000 in Kenya alone in the year 2011. What: ASSET is an innovative system to eliminate the need for customs bonds, thus reducing the cost of doing business for traders and clearing agents, while safeguarding revenue. Through ASSET, taxes and duties payable at the country of destination are held in a dedicated financial facility before transit. This amount serves as the guarantee to revenue authorities in transit countries and as the duties and taxes payable upon safe arrival of goods at the intended destination. How: TMA is funding revenue authorities to conduct further research into the feasibility of ASSET and to develop the ICT infrastructure between the financial institutions and revenue authorities. The project supports Burundi and Tanzania revenue authorities to conduct a pilot on the Central Corridor for Burundi’s petroleum imports, through the port of Dar es Salaam. Contact: Alban Odhiambo: alban.odhiambo@trademarkea.com Click here to learn more about One Stop Border Posts Program[/single_project_block_1][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type="fixGreySection" el_id="desired-result"][vc_column][single_project_block_2 heading="Desired Results" image_1="41987" image_2="41989"]ASSET will save traders money spent...

The EAC Common Market Scorecard 2014 assesses progress toward the development of a common market in capital, services, and goods across the Partner States of the East African Community (EAC)—Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda.