Horn of Africa countries move to cut trade barriers, boost regional commerce

NAIROBI, Kenya – Trade ministers from the Horn of Africa have agreed to remove barriers to cross-border commerce and strengthen regional economic activity by forming a regional committee. Kenya’s Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui signed a joint declaration alongside fellow ministers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, establishing the Horn of Africa Initiative (HoAI) Regional Trade Facilitation Committee.

The committee aims to coordinate reforms and make cross-border trade more efficient across participating countries. The five-year road map for trade facilitation reforms, approved by the ministers, will be the committee's primary focus. The committee will facilitate joint proposals for regional trade reforms, promote sharing of experiences and best practices, and support countries in designing and implementing necessary regulatory procedures and coordination mechanisms.

Deepening regional economic integration and increasing intra-regional trade are key goals for Horn of Africa nations as they seek to address administrative and regulatory barriers that currently hinder cross-border commerce. Successful implementation of the roadmap is expected to boost trade among the region's countries and contribute to broader economic development in the Horn of Africa.