
NEWS- Women and Youth traders at the cross-border town of Nimule – Elegu have appealed to the Governments to publish trade procedures for the most commonly traded goods at the Nimule-Elegu border to enhance transparency and boost trade between South Sudan and Uganda.
The appeal was made during the East African Business Council(EABC) – AGRA Public-Private Dialogue on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) sensitisation engagement at the Nimule-Elegu Border.
An official from the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) at the border stated that 600 to 1200 people formally cross the Nimule-Elegu border daily and key exports from Uganda to South Sudan include cereals while most imports are fish.
While speaking on behalf of East African Business Council Chairperson Hon John Akol Akol, Caesar Riko from South Sudan Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (SSNCIA) emphasized that South Sudan and Uganda should be more dynamic in trade, improving production, diversification, and facilitation to boost intra-East African Community trade.
Matia Etedu from the Ministry of EAC Affairs stated that the elimination of Non Tarrif Barriers such as visa fees between South Sudan and Uganda has significantly improved trade ties and urged cross-border traders to commercialize agriculture and embrace economic integration by tapping into the EAC common market.
Abraham Ariik from the Ministry of EAC Affairs, Republic of South Sudan, stated that nurturing strong relationships is crucial for trade to thrive and eliminate Non Tarrif Barriers.
The women and youth traders recommended several measures to improve trade that include upscaling Nimule/Elegu to a One Stop Border Post (OSBP), harmonizing and synchronizing Custom Systems and procedures, increasing border gate opening hours to allow more women and youth to trade.
Thet also asked the governments to adressing exchange rate fluctuations, full adoption of the EAC Simplified Trade Regime, implementing EAC Commitments by the Republic of South Sudan including the ratification of the EAC Customs Union Protocol, improving the infrastructure on the Nimule-Juba road, 24-hour operation of the border post, establishing banking services at the Elegu-Uganda side and establishing a cross-border reporting desk at the Nimule-border.
It was also suggested that onboarding of new trade facilitation East African Business Councilofficers with expertise in gender and trade facilitation, addressing high transport costs, establishing and supporting women and youth cooperatives, involving women and youth cross-border traders in joint border management committee meetings, using gazetted routes to eliminate smuggling, reducing the number of roadblocks and checkpoints.
Frank Dafa, Manager of Trade in Goods, representing EABC Executive Director Adrian Njau, urged cross-border traders to report Non Tarrif Barriers via the mobile-based EAC-NTBs reporting application.
East Africa Business Council, in partnership with AGRA, also conducted capacity building for women and youth cross-border traders on trade facilitation under the EAC Simplified Trade Regime where over 60 women and youth cross-border traders enhanced their knowledge of cross-border trade.
East Africa Business Council also sensitized the women and youth cross-border traders on the EABC-TCCIA-AGRA WhatsApp B2B Platform (+255764520168), which enables potential buyers to view products sold by cross-border traders and place orders directly.
The South Sudan Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture
urged women cross-border traders to utilize business development services to scale up their businesses across borders urged the EAC to support bilateral trade between South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the border.
The East African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) has a dedicated office and desk officer at the Elegu border to support cross-border traders and enhance collective trade through established cooperatives and this initiative is part of the EABC-AGRA project titled “Promoting Intra-EAC Agri-Food Cross-Border Trade by Addressing Non Tarrif Barriers.”
ABOUT THE EAST AFRICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL:
The East African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex body of private sector associations and Corporates from the 8 East African countries.
It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process of the East African Community.
EABC vision is a borderless East Africa for business and investment. The primary mission is to promote sustainable private sector-driven growth in the East African Community www.eabc-online.com.
ABOUT AGRA:
AGRA is an African-led organisation focused on putting farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy and advances uniquely African solutions to sustainably raise farmers’ productivity and connect them to a growing marketplace.
Together with its partners including researchers, donors, African governments, the private sector, and civil society, AGRA seeks to create an environment where Africa sustainably feeds itself.
For more information, please contact:
Patrick Moshi
East African Business Council (EABC)
9th Floor Mafao House | Old Moshi Road | Arusha | Tanzania
P. O. Box 2617 | Tel: +255 27 2520162
Email: info@eabc-online.com I Website: www.eabc-online.com
EABC – The Voice of the Private Sector in East Africa
