EABC equips over 50 Ugandan companies on enhancing export

East African Business Council (EABC) in partnership with the European Union (EU) and GIZ, under the Leveraging Integration Frameworks for Trade in Services (LIFTED) Project, convened a capacity building workshop of over 50 Uganda-based export-ready companies in the services sector.

The training that was held from 2nd to 3rd October 2025 at the Imperial Royale Hotel, Kampala, Uganda targeted export-ready firms that have been profiled from priority service sectors across selected EAC Partner States,  focusimg on the practical application of rules, regulations, and business concepts that guide the export of services.

Speaking during the Capacity Building Workshop on Trade in Services, Mr. Simon Kaheru, EABC Vice Chairman, called for the elimination of restrictions on services trade and the expedited adoption of the Mutual Recognition of Academic and Professional Qualifications as well as the harmonization of regulatory frameworks in the EAC region.

Mr. Kaheru also urged stronger support for SMEs, women, and youth in services trade.

“The future of East Africa’s prosperity depends on our ability to trade more with each other and the world,” said Mr. Simon Kaheru.

The two-day training aims to strengthen the export readiness of service sector firms, with a particular focus on SMEs, women-led, and youth-led enterprises.

In his opening address, Mr. Adrian Njau, Acting Executive Director of EABC, emphasized the critical role of services in the region’s economies.

“Services—including ICT, tourism, transport, finance, education, and professional services—are the backbone of East Africa’s economies, contributing significantly to GDP, job creation, and innovation,” he said.

Mr. Njau noted that despite this, SMEs and women- and youth-led businesses still face barriers in accessing service export markets.

“Fragmented regulations, slow recognition of qualifications, limited financing, and information gaps hinder their competitiveness. This workshop is an investment in people—our entrepreneurs, our youth, and our women,” he added.

Ms. Prudence N. The Managing Director of K-Roma Ltd the the producer of Bella Products harmonization of travel processes across East African countries to avoid over stamping in travel documentation while moving goods, while advocating for the onusmption of locally made health products.

She urged the EAC to address supply challenges existing in regional trading in East Africa including certification, high taxes, delays in border clearance among others.

“Why should you stamp my passport everytime I cross a border in East Africa. When you have a good product with a health benefit  like Bella wine, EAC should support traders in the supply and certification challenges” she said.

 Lamech Wesonga, Economic Policy Advisor on AfCFTA for EAC-GIZ, commended EABC for its efforts in advancing private sector interests and for partnering with GIZ to address trade-related restrictions on the free movement of services and service providers. He highlighted that profiled firms will also receive one-on-one coaching on rules, regulations, and business concepts for service exports, as well as support in developing export strategies. Selected firms will be linked to EU counterparts in a match-making session scheduled for early 2026.

Representing the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Ms. Florence Mambea, Outreach Manager, stressed the importance of cultivating a culture of professional service delivery and compliance with export market regulations and standards.

“To ensure sustainability of service provision, companies must remain consistent, professional, and accountable to their brand,” she said.

The EU–GIZ LIFTED Project seeks to empower at least 200 export-ready companies across four EAC Partner States, equipping them with knowledge, strategies, and networks to thrive in regional and global markets, including under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

All leaders called on policymakers to translate commitments into action and to enhance collaboration among governments, regulators, private sector associations, and development partners to unlock the full potential of services trade.

“The free movement of services is not just a clause in the Common Market Protocol—it is a promise to our entrepreneurs, a driver of jobs for our youth, and a pathway to prosperity for East Africa,” concluded Mr. Adrian Njau.

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 EAC.