By Godo Luwo
Women and youth cross-border traders have called on the governments of South Sudan and Uganda to make public the trade procedures for commonly traded goods at the Nimule-Elegu border crossing.
This appeal was made during an East African Business Council (EABC) and AGRA Public-Private Dialogue on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) held at the border.
Traders emphasized that increased transparency would boost trade between the two countries.
Key exports from Uganda to South Sudan include cereals, while fish is a major import. According to a Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) official at the border, between 600 and 1,200 people formally cross the Nimule-Elegu border daily.
Speaking on behalf of EABC Chairperson John Akol Akol, Mr. Caesar Riko from South Sudan Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture (SSNCIA) emphasized that South Sudan and Uganda should be more dynamic in trade, improving production, diversification, and facilitation to boost intra-EAC trade.
Mr. Matia Etedu from the Ministry of EAC Affairs stated that the elimination of NTBs such as visa fees between South Sudan and Uganda has significantly improved trade ties.
He urged cross-border traders to commercialize agriculture and embrace economic integration by tapping into the EAC common market.
Mr. Abraham Ariik from the Ministry of EAC Affairs, Republic of South Sudan, stated that nurturing strong relationships is crucial for trade to thrive and eliminate NTBs.
Women and youth traders recommended several measures to improve trade, including upscaling Nimule/Elegu to a One Stop Border Post (OSBP), harmonizing and synchronizing customs systems and procedures.
They also recommended increasing border gate opening hours (to allow more women and youth to trade), addressing exchange rate fluctuations.
The traders further recommended fully adopting the EAC Simplified Trade Regime, implementing EAC commitments by the Republic of South Sudan (including ratification of the EAC Customs Union Protocol), improving the infrastructure on the Nimule-Juba road, operating the border post 24 hours.
Establishing banking services at the Elegu-Uganda side, establishing a cross-border reporting desk at the Nimule border, and onboarding new trade facilitation officers with expertise in gender and trade facilitation are other recommendations.
They also added that addressing high transport costs, establishing and supporting women and youth cooperatives, and involving women and youth cross-border traders in joint border management committee meetings.
They added that using gazetted routes to eliminate smuggling and reducing the number of roadblocks and checkpoints are important.
Mr. Frank Dafa, Manager of Trade in Goods, representing EABC Executive Director Mr. Adrian Njau, urged cross-border traders to report NTBs via the mobile-based EAC NTBs reporting application.
EABC, in partnership with AGRA, also conducted capacity building for women and youth cross-border traders on trade facilitation under the EAC Simplified Trade Regime. Over 60 women and youth cross-border traders enhanced their knowledge of cross-border trade.
EABC also sensitized the women and youth cross-border traders on the EABC-TCCIA-AGRA WhatsApp B2B Platform which enables potential buyers to view products sold by cross-border traders and place orders directly.
The SSNCCIA urged women cross-border traders to utilize business development services to scale up their businesses across borders.
SSNCCIA urged the EAC to support bilateral trade between South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo at the border.
The East African Sub-Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI) has a dedicated office and desk officer at the Elegu border to support cross-border traders and enhance collective trade through established cooperatives.
This initiative is part of the EABC-AGRA project titled “Promoting Intra-EAC Agri-Food Cross-Border Trade by Addressing NTBs.”
AGRA is an African-led organisation focused on putting farmers at the centre of the continent’s growing economy.
AGRA advances uniquely African solutions to sustainably raise farmers’ productivity and connect them to a growing marketplace.
Together with its partners—including researchers, donors, African governments, the private sector, and civil society—AGRA seeks to create an environment where Africa sustainably feeds itself.