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East African Community Trade Promotion Organizations Technical Working Group set to strengthening trade across the region

Kampala, Uganda – March 27, 2025

The East African Community (EAC) Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) Technical Working Group (TWG) meeting took place from March 24 to 27, 2025, in Kampala, Uganda.

The International Trade Centre (ITC), in collaboration with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat and Partner States, organized the meeting, which marks a significant milestone in the ongoing efforts of the European Union (EU) funded EU-EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP II).

Key discussions at the meeting focused on refining the work programme and preparing for the EAC participation at the 2025 Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF) in Algiers, Algeria, from September 4 to 10, 2025.

Mr. Cleopas Ndorere . Ministry of Trade, industry and Cooperatives (MTIC) - Commissioner of External trade speaking on the occasion said, “Our objective is to ensure that Uganda not only competes globally but also thrives as a hub for regional and international trade. Today Uganda is faced with more trade opportunities which manifest themselves in the various regional and international blocs such as the EAC, COMESA, the Tripartite and the AfCFTA and EU.
The government of Uganda continues to enjoy cordial trade and economic developmental partnerships with The European Union (EU), International Trade Centre (ITC) and EAC Partner States through EAC Secretariat. The government of Uganda is grateful to the European Union funded initiatives like MARKUP II, Implemented by ITC in partnership with EAC Secretariat.”

Ms. Annete Ssemwemba Deputy Secretary General Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs East African Community in her remarks said, “We are grateful to our partners, International Trade Centre and the European Union, for their invaluable support to the East African Community (EAC) region under MARKUP II. Specifically, their contributions to the formation of the Technical Working Group (TWG) for Trade Promotion Organizations have been instrumental. The TWG serves as a unique platform for addressing common challenges and exploring collaborative solutions. Together, we represent a collective commitment to advancing trade, investment, and economic growth across our Partner States and regions. This will enhance our visibility in international markets, open doors for new market opportunities, and strengthen our presence in existing ones.”

Mr. Sagoh Djete, EU Programme Manager for Regional Cooperation -Infrastructure, EU Delegation to Tanzania and the East African Community (EAC), said: “A well-coordinated EAC TPO network will provide critical support to businesses by helping MSMEs identify and access new market opportunities within the EAC and globally. This will encourage intra-EAC sourcing and production synergies to increase value addition and competitiveness.”

Ms. Miyoba Lubemba, Snr Programme Officer, Institutions and Ecosystems, ITC briefed participants about EU-EAC MARKUP II support to the EAC TPO Technical Working Group.

EU-EAC MARKUP II is supporting the establishment and operationalization of a network of EAC Trade Promotion Organizations (TPOs) that have a crucial role to play in developing and promoting exports, thereby enhancing SME competitiveness.

However, many TPOs face challenges in fulfilling their mandates due to limited resources and capacity. Through regional cooperation, as exemplified by the EAC TPO Technical Working Group, strategic trade development efforts are significantly strengthened. This cooperation facilitates a range of activities including information exchange about business opportunities, organizing joint trade missions, exhibitions, and optimizing limited resources for greater impact.

This initiative by EU-EAC MARKUP II will be instrumental in focusing on enhancing SMEs’ capacities and opportunities for business and export growth.

It is important to note that the 44th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers on Trade, Industry, Finance, and Investment (SCTIFI) in May 2024 approved the creation of the EAC TPO Technical Working Group. Furthermore, the subsequent approval of the Terms of Reference and Memorandum of Understanding set the foundation for deeper cooperation among EAC TPOs.

During the 45th SCTIFI Meeting in November 2024, the EAC Secretariat was directed to develop a comprehensive work programme for the Technical Working Group to ensure that the cooperation would yield tangible benefits for all involved. The recent meeting in Kampala was a critical step in this process.

Following the meeting, the ITC also organized a Networking Debrief for the EAC Secretariat and the CEOs of the Partner States’ TPOs. This debrief updated the EU delegation on the ongoing support provided by EU-EAC MARKUP II to the EAC TPO TWG and to foster networking opportunities with key stakeholders from the EAC Secretariat, TPOs, and the ITC.

By building stronger linkages and collaborative engagement, the EAC TPO Technical Working Group is paving the way for improved trade development actions at national, regional, continental, and global levels. The group’s work will play a pivotal role in advancing the targets outlined in the EAC Export Promotion Strategy, ensuring long-term benefits for SMEs and the broader EAC region.

Watch the news report by Uganda Broadcasting Corporatiion