In mid-March, COMPETE and the Kenyan Ministry of Trade (MoT) conducted two cross-border traders sensitization and joint border committee capacity building workshops at Malaba and Busia.  The objective of the workshops was to inform small-scale, cross-border traders of their rights and listen to any challenges they face. Representatives from key government border agencies attended and responded to issues and concerns expressed by private sector stakeholders. The session also aimed to increase awareness of issues that affect the way small cross-border traders do business. Sixty-five traders attended the workshop in Malaba and 76 attended in Busia.

The seminar covered themes such as the benefits of the Simplified Trade Regime (STR) in the EAC for cross-border traders; the role of MoT in facilitating development of cross-border trade; and the impact of cross-border trade in the development of SMEs. Panel discussions were held with representatives from Customs, the Bureau of Standards, Immigration, and the Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). The workshops also developed joint border committee work plans and M&E performance assessment instruments.

Joint border committees have facilitated greater public-private sector cooperation through a common goal of improving efficiency of border operations to increase cross-border trade.

Read more about COMPETE’s work with joint border committees.