INTERVIEW: East African Business Council (EABC)
As the unified voice safeguarding the interests of the East African Business Community, the former CEO of the East African Business Council, Dr. Peter Mathuki, discusses the challenges and developments of streamlining intra-regional trade
The East African Business Council (EABC) is the apex body of private sector associations and corporates in the East African Community (EAC) region. The Council was formed in 1997 to advocate for a conducive business environment for trade and investment in the (EAC), by tracking progress on agreed commitments within the EAC integration process and providing a public-private dialogue platform at the EAC regional level.
The EABC vision is a borderless East Africa for business and investment. EABC organises several high-level public-private dialogues such as the EAC Secretary General Forum with CEOs, East African Business Leaders’ Summit with the EAC Council of Ministers, Regional Dialogue with Trade Facilitation Agencies, Transport & Logistics, Customs & Tax, among others. EABC also undertakes research for evidence-based policy advocacy, provides advisory services, analysis and market intelligence on regulatory developments in the EAC in a bid to reduce the costs of doing business in the region.
In the last three years, under the tenure of Dr.
Peter Mathuki, the institution has strengthened its advocacy role, increasing its membership and firming up its role as the voice of the private sector. Dr. Mathuki has since transitioned and is currently the Secretary General of the EAC.
Africa Outlook (AO): Can you talk us through the origins of the EABC; how it came about, and its initial vision?
Dr. Peter Mathuki (PM): The inception of the East African Business Council in 1997, arose from the need for the EAC governments to consult with the private sector in their quest for a new EAC. It was important for the private sector to have a common voice in the region that would revive optimism and fast track the market Dr.iven benefits of the
East Africa Community Integration process. The aforementioned is evidenced from the fact that the EABC, on behalf of the private sector, was actively involved in the development of the treaty for the establishment of the EAC. Dr. Manu Chandaria, Hon. Amb. Juma Mwapachu and the late Prof. James Mulwana founded the East African Business Council and played a key role in the formulation and signing of the treaty establishing the EAC.
The EABC is recognised as the champion of private sector interests in the region as clearly shown in the structure of the EAC Consultative Dialogue Framework (CDF) approved by EAC Council of Ministers in 2012. The EABC is a true partner of the EAC regional integration agenda – the engine for social-economic growth in the region.
AO: Since inception, how has the East African Business Council developed and progressed in terms of its key objectives and the messages it tries to get across?
PM: The observer status, granted at the inception of EABC, made it possible for the organisation to participate in the activities and input into the negotiation process of the treaty, the protocols and other relevant instruments of the EAC. The approval of the EAC Consultative Dialogue Framework by the EAC Council of Ministers in 2012 further provided an opportunity for EABC and other non-state actors to consult the EAC leadership and other stakeholders and to participate in all relevant activities and deliberations at the EAC level. It is with no doubt that a lot has been achieved from influencing and advocating for formulation, implementation or review of various policies at regional level in a bid to improve the business environment and make it conducive for trade and investment in the region. Businesses can now feel the tangible benefits of the EAC integration process arising from the custom union, common market protocols as well as infrastructural developments such as the ‘One Stop Border Posts’ and Standard Gauge Railway. Looking back in 2004, the total intra EAC trade was $1.342 billion while the total EAC exports to the world was $4.182 billion. It is commendable to see that total
EAC intra-trade has increased to $5.1 billion in 2015 and total EAC exports to the world to $15.8 billion in 2019 (EAC Trade and Investment Reports).
The EABC also identified the 20 most traded goods in the EAC upon which the EABC is based on, to advocate for standards harmonisation. So far over 200 standards have been harmonised. The EABC also advocated for the review of the EAC SQMT Act paving the way for the standardisation,
“The EABC organised high-level courtesy visits to the EAC Heads of State and urged for intergovernmental trade dispute mechanism, elimination of persistent Non-Tariff Barriers and institutionalising a dialogue mechanism between the EAC Council of Ministers and private sector to inform the Summit of EAC Heads of State”
Accreditation Conformity Assessment (SACA) Bill and further advocated for the enactment of EAC Axle load Act. In Trade in Services Liberalisation:
The EABC advocated for delinking the movement of service suppliers (Mode Four from the schedule of Movement of Workers). Partner states have also formulated Regulations for Movement of Services and Service Suppliers.
The EABC organised high-level courtesy visits to the EAC Heads of State and urged for intergovernmental trade dispute mechanism, elimination of persistent Non-Tariff Barriers and institutionalising a dialogue mechanism between the EAC Council of Ministers and private sector to inform the Summit of EAC Heads of State. These high-level dialogue mechanisms have enabled EABC to put forward cross-border trade and investment bottlenecks affecting the East African business to the EAC Council of Ministers and Heads of State for quick resolution.
The EABC Secretariat, has successfully set up sector-specific desks with experts to respond to the needs of businesses in the region, these include: Trade in Services, Manufacturing, Agriculture, Energy, Infrastructure and SMEs, and also Women in Business.
AO: What did you find most exciting about working in trade and investment within the East African private sector?
PM: Delivering tangible benefits to businesses and creating jobs, following our advocacy initiatives was exciting and fulfilling. EABC has actively advocated for issues which have eased trade in the region. For instance, the EABC relentlessly advocated for the harmonisation of a work permit regime in EAC- so far Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have removed work permit fees for East African nationals and Tanzania has reduced work permit fees for East Africans.
EABC is currently still pushing for abolition of work and residency permit fees for East African nationals.
EABC has contributed significantly to the elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) through:
• Advocacy - particularly of the establishment of the mechanism for elimination of NTBs in EAC. • Through studies and surveys- EABC has developed several position papers that have influenced policy formulation at EAC level.
The EABC developed the Annual EABC Policy Advocacy Agenda highlighting key challenges faced by the private sector and recommendations to boost economic resilience amid the pandemic.
The EABC has been pushing for the finalisation of the comprehensive review of the EAC Common External Tariff with the view of building consensus amongst the private sector on the appropriate tariff structure.
AO: How has COVID-19 affected the EAC?
PM: Supply and demand shocks have impacted trade in goods and services in the EAC. In addition, disruption of the global supply chain has negatively impacted the demand of EAC exports.
The supply shocks have resulted in shortages of raw materials, capital goods, intermediate goods, and final products which are critical for domestic production. Also, various restrictions instituted by the EAC partner states have negatively impacted the free flow of goods across countries hence a decline in intra-EAC trade. The tourism and hospitality sectors are some of the most adversely affected areas in the region. In the year 2020,
EAC Partner States lost approximately $5.4 billion of tourist local spending. The aviation and transport and logistics sectors are also other areas adversely affected.
The EABC has been vital in pushing for business and economic resilience of the EAC bloc amid the pandemic by urging for adoption and implementation EAC coordinated approach on COVID-19, called for fiscal incentives to cushion
East African businesses, resumption of air transport services and resolved COVID-19 related NTBs at border points.
AO: What trends are currently transforming East Africa and how are you responding to them?
PM: East African countries are embracing digitisation in the movement of persons and goods. For instance, in transport hailing applications such as Uber and online shopping applications. In terms of cross border movement of goods, the region has embraced the Regional Electronic Cargo and Dr.iver Tracking System (RECDTS). RECDTS is designed as a mobile phone application that enables the issuance of the EAC COVID-19 digital certificates that are mutually recognised by partner states, thus eliminating the need for multiple testing as well as contributing to alleviating ongoing congestion at East Africa border crossing points.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers a new market of 1.2 billion people. as the fastest growing economic bloc in Africa, the EAC should be at the centre of this transformative agreement.