Posted on August, 9, 2018 at 10:46 am
By GERALD ANDAE
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) region stands to gain $17.5 billion (Sh1.75 trillion) in intra-bloc exports if all members fully implement digital trade facilitation reforms.
According to research findings presented to the 5th Comesa Annual Research Forum underway in Nairobi, five countries have the greatest intra-Comesa export trade potential for the region. These are Eritrea, Egypt, Sudan, Libya and Ethiopia.
“The implementation scores used in the study only captured the paperless trade facilitation measures that enable efficient coordination and exchange of data and documents among government border agencies and business communities within a country,” said researcher Adam Willie.
Comesa has already set up a sub-committee to oversee implementation of a Digital Free Trade Area (DFTA) which will enable cross boarder online commerce among member states. The DFTA is an online platform for trade facilitation comprising three segments namely electronic trade (e-trade,) e-logistics and e-legislation. Top scorers under the assessment criteria were Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius and Rwanda.
The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) region stands to gain $17.5 billion (Sh1.75 trillion) in intra-bloc exports if all members fully implement digital trade facilitation reforms.
According to research findings presented to the 5th Comesa Annual Research Forum underway in Nairobi, five countries have the greatest intra-Comesa export trade potential for the region. These are Eritrea, Egypt, Sudan, Libya and Ethiopia.
“The implementation scores used in the study only captured the paperless trade facilitation measures that enable efficient coordination and exchange of data and documents among government border agencies and business communities within a country,” said researcher Adam Willie.
Comesa has already set up a sub-committee to oversee implementation of a Digital Free Trade Area (DFTA) which will enable cross boarder online commerce among member states. The DFTA is an online platform for trade facilitation comprising three segments namely electronic trade (e-trade,) e-logistics and e-legislation. Top scorers under the assessment criteria were Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius and Rwanda.
Source: Business Daily