The East African Enterprise Council (EABC) has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Trade (ACCI) to strengthen commerce cooperation between East and West of Africa.

Talking on the signing ceremony, Chief government officer of EABC Mr John Bosco Kalisa mentioned “intra-African commerce is at the moment low at 14.4 per cent of complete African exports.”  He mentioned the African Continental Free Commerce Space (AfCFTA) is ready to spice up intra-African commerce by about 33 per cent.

He mentioned in 2021, EAC bloc items export to Financial Neighborhood of West African States (ECOWAS) reached $91 million whereas imports $256 million.

EABC and ACCI partnership will champion AfCFTA implementation by collaborating and linking companies to entry export/import and funding alternatives.

President of ACCI Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar Gumi mentioned “The partnership will enhance business data change, buyer due diligence data and provides a platform for various dispute decision on commerce issues.”

The ECOWAS has a mixed GDP of $734.8 billion and inhabitants of over 300 million folks.

Following disruption of worldwide provide chains as a consequence of COVID-19, EAC imported extra from ECOWAS area. EAC imports from ECOWAS hit $488.4 million in 2020 a 132 per cent from $209 million 2019.

Prime EAC product imports from ECOWAS are valuable stones, animal or vegetable fat, mineral fuels, glass, equipment, important oils and cocoa whereas high EAC exports to ECOWAS embrace textile fibres; espresso, tea, maté and spices, pharmaceutical, uncooked hides and skins, electrical equipment, furnishings; miscellaneous chemical merchandise and tobacco.

Highlighting the importance of the MOU to Africa, senior worldwide commerce coverage/commerce legislation knowledgeable and the technical accomplice lead, Mr. Olusegun Olutayo, mentioned, “this partnership is premised on mutual advantages, understanding of the AfCFTA instrument and its use as a software to advance developmental regionalism”.

As outlined within the MoU, EABC, ACCI and the Technical Associate additionally decide to collectively set up outward commerce mission, examine excursions, exhibition, and conferences.