Ruto Backs EAC Reforms to Boost Trade Efficiency
President Ruto emphasized the importance of digitization in enhancing the community's efficiency and reducing the costs associated with cross-border trade.
Kenyan President William Ruto has expressed strong support for the ongoing reforms within the East African Community (EAC), which aim to modernize its institutions and streamline trade and business operations across the region.
During a meeting at State House, Nairobi, with EAC Secretary-General Veronica Nduva and her deputies, President Ruto emphasized the importance of digitization in enhancing the community's efficiency and reducing the costs associated with cross-border trade.
He shared this update on his X account, a platform he frequently uses to communicate with the public.
“The East African Community is reforming its institutions and systems to make them more efficient and reduce the cost of trade and business,” President Ruto stated, stressing that digital platforms will be pivotal in ensuring that the EAC is fit-for-purpose and able to better serve its Member States and citizens.
The reforms are designed to tackle long-standing challenges to intra-regional trade, including delays at border points, non-tariff barriers, and complex regulatory frameworks.
By integrating technology, the EAC aims to enhance coordination among its member states, expedite customs processes, and create a more conducive business environment for economic growth.
The meeting, which included EAC Deputy Secretaries Annette Ssemuwemba and Andrea Aguer Ariik Malueth, highlights Kenya's active involvement in driving regional integration.
Kenya, with its strategic position in East Africa, stands to benefit greatly from more streamlined trade flows and strengthened economic cooperation within the EAC.
As the EAC presses ahead with its reform agenda, the adoption of digital solutions is seen as a crucial step toward unlocking the region's economic potential and ensuring that the community's institutions are responsive to the needs of its people.
