Kampala, Uganda, 6 August 2026: The East African Business Council (EABC), in partnership with GIZ through the LIFTED Project, convened the Regional Capacity-Building Workshop on Service Exports for Trade and Investment Support Institutions (TISIs) in the East African Community (EAC).
In his remarks, the Chief Guest, Mr. Leo Kizito Ojara, Commissioner for Economic Affairs at Uganda’s Ministry of East African Community Affairs, noted that global commercial services trade reached nearly USD 8.7 trillion in 2024, while services contribute 50–60% of GDP across the EAC. He called for improved services trade data systems to support evidence-based policymaking and better export promotion.
The workshop brought together Export Promotion Agencies, Investment Promotion Authorities, and regional institutions and explored strategies to promote and support export-ready service enterprises. Despite the services sector contributing over 50% of GDP in most EAC Partner States, services exports remain constrained by regulatory fragmentation, limited market intelligence, and weak institutional coordination.
Mr. Oscar Kamukama, EABC Board Director, emphasized that East Africa’s competitiveness will increasingly depend on its ability to export knowledge-based and digitally enabled services. He called for stronger collaboration among institutions to transform trade agreements into business opportunities and enable service providers to compete globally.
Mr. Lamech Wesonga, Economic Policy Advisor, GIZ-EAC, commended EABC’s partnership under the LIFTED Project, stressing that strengthening Trade and Investment Support Institutions is critical in translating regional policies into practical opportunities for businesses.
On her part, Ms. Annette Kengenzi from the EAC Secretariat highlighted progress under the EAC Common Market Protocol, including the removal of restrictions, use of National IDs as travel documents, Mutual Recognition Agreements, the Single Tourist Visa, harmonized standards, and ongoing alignment of curricula and qualifications. She emphasized the need to strengthen the capacity of institutions to support service exporters.
The workshop forms part of the broader EU-GIZ LIFTED Project, which supports stronger institutions and increased competitiveness of East African service providers in regional and global markets.
