DFID / RTFP

The UK Department for International Development (DFID) East Africa, through the Regional Trade Facilitation Programme (RTFP) in 2008 provided technical and financial support to EABC for various activities. The major activity has been the financing of 2 studies, which aimed at establishing the Impact of the EAC Customs Union on Businesses. The Studies were Impact of the EAC CU on Businesses and the 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.

The Reports were subjected to validation Workshops, at both National Level and at the Regional Level. Recommendations reached at the regional Workshop are being pursued by the Secretariat. In terms of concrete results from the studies, major NTBs on both the northern and central corridor are being reduced. These include removal / reduction of number of police road blocks; 24 hrs / 7 days week service delivery at the Port of Mombasa and all border crossings In addition, the five weighbridges that were in Kenya have been reduced to 2, one in Mombasa and another one at Malaba.

RTFP in October 2008 supported the production of an EABC Briefing Paper, which was distributed during the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Summit. With support of RTFP and Members, EABC hosted the luncheon during this Summit, with a view to articulating the role and challenges to deepening private sector involvement in regional integration.

DFID is set to begin a more substantive programme of support with EABC in 2009 onwards.