EAC EXPORTS TO GERMANY RISE BY 25 PERCENT

 Exports from the East African Community (EAC) bloc to Germany rose by 25 percent last year compared to 2019.

The exports hit $ 304million during the period in which the region and the world in general was severely battered by Covid-19.

 

According to the East African Business Council (EABC), an apex body of private sector associations based here, the region imported goods worth $850million. 

John Bosco Kalisa, executive director of the regional business body   revealed this on Wednesday in Arusha during a meeting with the German-African Business Association (Afrika Verein).

He said besides increased trade, the six nation EAC bloc was keen to  enhance investment ties with Germany, the largest economy in Europe.

“In 2020, EAC imports of goods from Germany hit USD.850million while exports to Germany hit USD.304 million, a 25% increase in comparison to 2019,”, he said.

 

On his part, EABC Chairman Emeritus, Vimal Shah called for the reignition of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between EABC and the German African Business Association to spur trade.

 

Dr. Markus Thill, Board Member of Afrika-Verein, and President Region Africa of Bosch called for harmonized policies to support the growth of the automotive sector in the EAC.

This, he said, would facilitate adoption of a common position on Rules of Origins at the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) level.

Dr. Markus further urged for deeper analysis on the automotive value chains in East Africa to enable the sector to attract more investors into the sector.

  

Mrs. Mary Ngechu, EABC Board Director called for capacity building on certification for value added products by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in East Africa.

According to her, this will  ease access to the German and European Union (EU) market and boost manufacturing in the region.

 

Ms. Sarah Reynolds from Merck Group urged the EAC Partner States to forge partnerships on distribution agreements, local procurement and advance market commitments to lure investments in the vaccine industry. 

She explained that access to EAC Common Market of 177 million  people underpins the growth and sustainability of vaccine industries and investment. 

 

Mrs. Emily Waita, EABC Board Director urged for collaboration between East African and German companies on lessons and best practices on circular economy and innovative climate mitigation solutions.

 

Mr. John Bosco Rusagara said there is high political goodwill from the EAC Head of State to ease doing business in the region. 

He explained that the EAC secretariat has made remarkable progress on the admission of Democratic Republic of Congo into the EAC bloc.

 Leading  exports to Germany from the EAC  include coffee, tea, maté and spices, flowers, edible fruits, precious metals, petroleum oils and industrial or medicinal plants while imports include: machinery, vehicles, pharmaceuticals, measuring instruments and electrical parts.

 

EABC and the Afrika-Verein agreed to collaborate on  manufacturing, healthcare and pharmaceutical, energy, mobility and infrastructure, among others.