Taveta–Holili OSBP – Friday 3rd October 2025 – The East African Business Council (EABC), In collaboration with the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) and in partnership with AGRA, the East African Business Council (EABC) has launched a Trade Information Booth on both sides of the Taveta–Holili One Stop Border Post (OSBP) to ease access to market information, trade procedures, and guidance on the EAC Simplified Trade Regime (STR).
The newly launched Trade Information Booth will serve as a one-stop center for women and youth traders. It is equipped with a television and tables displaying simplified learning videos with step-by-step procedures for trading cereals and horticultural products. The booth also provides access to online reporting on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), whistle-blowing and complaint mechanisms in trade, and a market information platform – a WhatsApp B2B platform is accessible via mobile number: +255 764 520 168.
Speaking on behalf of Mr. Adrian Raphael Njau, Acting Executive Director of EABC, Mr. Gift Gabriel, Trade in Goods Officer, stated: “The initiative is part of the ongoing project Promoting Intra-EAC Agri-Food Cross-Border Trade by Addressing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to Trade, which seeks to strengthen the participation of women and youth in cross-border trade and boost intra-EAC food trade, particularly in cereals and horticulture.”
Representing the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, United Republic of Tanzania, Mr. Amedeus Arbogast Mzee highlighted that “The Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC, Article 3(e), emphasizes the promotion of balanced development, gender equality, and youth development in line with the people-centered and market-driven principles of the Community.”
Representing the Principal Secretary, Ministry of EAC, ASALs and Regional Development, State Department for EAC Affairs of the Republic of Kenya, Ms. Mary Maisory noted that “The Trade Information Booth is a one-stop center for small cross-border traders to access information on the EAC Simplified Trade Regime.”
From the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA), Holili Border, Mr. Leonard Mapunda emphasized the importance of facilitating small traders to formalize and scale up in order to improve livelihoods and spur economic growth.
Representing the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) at Taveta Border, Mr. Hudson Makhanu announced that Kenya has allocated a help desk for small cross-border traders, which will become operational in November 2025.
A total of 70 women and youth cross-border traders lauded the launch of the Trade Information Booth. The event was followed by a Public-Private Dialogue (PPD) on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and trade facilitation. During the PPD, participants raised concerns over complex procedure and high fees on plant health inspection and certification, a major setback to to the EAC Simplified Trade Regime.
As part of the initiative, EABC conducted capacity-building sessions focusing on:
- Enhancing financial literacy to enable traders to effectively manage finances and access credit.
- Strengthening business management skills within cross-border traders’ cooperatives and associations to improve governance, accountability, and market access.
- Promoting gender-sensitive practices by equipping border officials with knowledge on inclusive trade facilitation and supporting women traders against harassment, discrimination, and gender-based violence.
In addition, the EABC–TCCIA–AGRA partnership rolled out “Business Capital Award” competition. 10 young women cross border traders of cereals and horticultural products at Taveta Holili OSBP pitched successfully and showed evidence of trading the EAC Simplified Trade Regime (STR) and were awarded USD.200 each.
The Holili young women winners are: Latifa Ibrahim, Happyness Shirima, Elizabeth Ngome, Christina Marima and Winfrida Msele. The Taveta young women winners are: Neema Mtua, Gladness Mbaika,Ester Mutuku,Mariselina Wughaga and Mary Ombura.
EABC also recognized and donated USD.500 Matunda Women Group Holili and USD.500 to Taveta Cross Border Traders SACCO as support the young women participants to join the associations/cooperatives and benefit from micro loans.
