Arusha, Tanzania — The East African Business Council (EABC), in partnership with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the National Quality Assurance Tanzania (NQAT), convened a national webinar to enhance the capacity of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to comply with quality requirements and improve their access to regional and international markets.
The webinar, held under the theme “Navigating Quality Requirements with the EAC Quality for Trade Platform,” brought together exporters, regulators, quality professionals, and business support institutions to increase awareness of standards, certification procedures, and evolving buyer expectations.
Opening the session, EABC highlighted that while MSMEs are central to economic growth, employment, and industrial development, many continue to face difficulties in meeting mandatory standards and technical regulations required in export markets. Businesses were encouraged to embrace quality management as a strategic investment for competitiveness rather than a compliance burden.
Experts from the International Trade Centre introduced the EAC Quality for Trade Platform, a free, user-friendly digital solution that enables enterprises to quickly identify applicable regulations, standards, and market preferences for their products. Participants were guided through practical modules including the Quality Compass, which provides step-by-step direction on requirements, and tools that connect firms with accredited laboratories, certification bodies, and quality experts.
Representatives from NQAT emphasized the importance of strengthening national quality infrastructure and urged companies to seek early guidance to reduce the risks of shipment rejections, financial losses, and reputational damage.
Throughout the session, participants engaged in interactive discussions, sharing experiences on the challenges of certification costs, access to testing facilities, and limited awareness of export procedures. The dialogue reinforced the value of digital platforms and coordinated regional approaches in simplifying compliance.
The webinar concluded with a strong call for continuous collaboration between the private sector, government agencies, and development partners to build a culture of quality, promote trust in East African products, and enhance participation in global value chains.
This activity is part of broader regional efforts implemented by EABC in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and the Association of Quality Professionals (AQP) under the EU–EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme Phase II (MARKUP II) funded by the European Union, aimed at boosting SME competitiveness and facilitating sustainable trade.
