EAC to create a Regional Trade and Market Information platform

ASNET participated in a Regional Policy Dialogue on enhancing market information for cross border trade in Agricultural commodities within East Africa in Arusha, Tanzania. This was organized under Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) project that focuses on knowledge generation and sharing for effective services, under the CAADP – XP4 project that focuses on strengthening the enabling environment for regional trade markets especially on climate related commodities.
It was pointed out that limited market information is still a major challenge hindering cross border trade in agricultural commodities in the region member countries in Eastern Africa. It was proposed a Regional Trade and Market Information platform that is private sector led from all EAC member countries be created. The platform shall embrace a catalogue, list traded commodities with HS Code, quantity and quality, price, crop calendar location and compliance requirements among others. The platform shall link with other existing trade platforms. It was also recommended that the state of respective trade enablers such as relevant policies, infrastructure, and security are listed as well. Present was representatives from Private and Public sector from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Congo, Burundi, Rwanda and Southern Sudan.