Strengthening Regional Coordination Through Peer Learning
Trade Information Portals (TIPs) and procedural simplification were in focus as over 60 participants from eight East African Community Partner States — Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Somalia — attended a three-day Technical Peer Learning Workshop in Nairobi. Participants included TIP Coordinators, customs officials, and private sector representatives.
From 13–15 October 2025, the EAC, in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC), UNCTAD, and the European Union (EU), hosted the event, organized under the EU-funded EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme II (MARKUP II).
Delegates shared country-level progress and innovations. Since January 2025, Tanzania has recorded over 89,580 visitors to its Trade Information Portal, Kenya 82,063, Rwanda 45,225 users, Uganda 38,663 users, and Burundi 9,448 visitors over the same period. Functional enhancements included automated enquiry points and use of AI Chatbot in Rwanda and Tanzania, real time tariff calculator in Rwanda, and integration of reform tracking tools across all member states. A dedicated session introduced the Corridor Mapping module, designed to consolidate trade flow data and harmonize procedures across borders.
TIP Vision 2030: Innovation, Inclusion, and Interoperability
Participants articulated a shared TIP Vision 2030, emphasizing AI-powered features, multilingual support, and inclusive design for persons with disabilities.
Recommendations from the workshop included embedding TIPs in government websites, maintaining TIP teams for at least two years, launching targeted media campaigns, and integrating TIPs with customs systems and single windows. The workshop also emphasized the importance of corridor-level data harmonization and the use of AI for enquiry management and monitoring simplification reforms.
Sub-Committee Meeting Endorses Strategic Actions
On 17 October, the EAC Sub-Committee on Trade Facilitation reviewed and adopted key recommendations to strengthen regional coherence and implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The Committee recommended that Partner States increase TIP visibility, develop simplification targets, and roll out the real-time tariff calculator across the region.
Advancing Risk Management and Leather Sectoral Simplification
The Sub-Committee highlighted the importance of Indicative Risk Management (IRM) assessments and recommended that Partner States designate focal points, adopt online training modules, and align national priorities with EAC-level strategies.
A Shared Commitment to Regional Impact
The week concluded with a unified commitment to digital transformation, inclusive design, and coordinated action, laying the groundwork for a more transparent, efficient, and integrated trade environment for businesses across the EAC.
