Experts call for expanded trade in key sectors in East Africa

Arusha. Experts have called for upscaled trade in agricultural, pharmaceutical and leather products in East Africa.

At a meeting in Nairobi last week, they said the three sectors have the potential to turn around the economies of the region if fully tapped.

In the fruits and vegetables sector, the experts emphasised the importance of harmonising agricultural and food safety standards within the region.

They highlighted the need to support the development and adoption of a code of conduct for farmers and exporters, aiming to strengthen self-monitoring frameworks.

Additionally, the experts stressed the significance of prioritising the development and improvement of quality planting seeds and seedlings.

The experts and officials from the development partners made the call during a two-day workshop held in the Kenyan capital.

Dubbed 'Regional Focal Persons Workshop to Monitor the Implementation of the Fruits & Vegetables: Leather & Leather Products: and Pharmaceutical Sectors Strategies and Action Plans’, the gathering was organised by the East African Community (EAC).

The workshop also attracted representatives from the East African Business Council (EABC) and GIZ, a German aid agency that supports a host of regional projects in the region.

On the pharmaceutical front, they noted significant ongoing projects, including the developments in Kenya, where two Biovax vaccine manufacturing plans are being set up.

In Rwanda, a BioNTech vaccine manufacturing plant is being set up and will go into production by the end of this year (2024).

They underscored the urgent need for the EAC partner states to expedite and streamline approval processes for pharmaceutical waste disposal, citing the potential risks associated with prolonged procedures.

The meeting emphasised the importance of developing harmonised regulations and guidelines for pharmaceutical waste management across the region.

This, they stressed, would ensure consistent and effective waste management practices, “thereby enhancing environmental sustainability and public safety.”

In the leather sector, the experts highlighted the need for investment and the adoption of modern processing technologies to address existing challenges.

These, according to the EAC secretariat, include the high cost of production and the production of low-quality leather products.

Notable issues identified during the meeting included low volumes of locally produced leather products and a limited capacity of tanneries due to insufficient technology and manpower.

The experts also pointed to what they described as “unfavourable competition” faced by the leather market from cheap imported products from outside the bloc.

They also advocated for enhanced data collection mechanisms utilising digital technology.

Recommendations included fast-tracking initiatives using digital and remote sensing for streamlined data collection and advocating for the inclusion of nuts in reports.

Additionally, the experts highlighted the necessity of developing user-friendly tools and self-assessment toolkits to enhance the capacity of SMEs to meet international requirements.

The importance of fostering public-private partnerships to pool financial resources and support infrastructure development was also stressed.

Speaking at the meeting, a representative of GIZ, Dr Thomas Walter, reiterated the organisations’ commitment to supporting sectoral development initiatives in addition to the importance of effective policy measures in enhancing regional trade and economic growth.