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The launch, which was held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Taveta–Holili border, coincided with a three-day training program titled “Capacity Building on Financial Literacy, Business Management and Gender-Sensitive Practices in Cross-Border Trade.”
The East African Business Council (EABC) has officially launched a digital information desk to assist small-scale cross-border traders in overcoming non-tariff barriers (NTBs), a persistent obstacle to regional trade within the East African Community (EAC).
The launch, which was held on Thursday, October 2, 2025, at the Taveta–Holili border, coincided with a three-day training program titled “Capacity Building on Financial Literacy, Business Management and Gender-Sensitive Practices in Cross-Border Trade.”
In her welcoming remarks, Dr. Fatuma Adan, IGAD Representative in Kenya, welcomed participants to the workshop and emphasised the urgency of the region’s digital connectivity for inclusive development, peace, and security. “Digital connectivity is overdue, we must connect ourselves to ensure sustainable service delivery, economic advancement, and improvements in our people’s lives,” she remarked.
Speaking on behalf of the World Bank, Dr. Michel Rogy, Regional Practice Director, Digital Development, Africa and the Middle East, highlighted the centrality of digital transformation to regional growth. “Digital market integration is essential to reap the benefits of digitalization,” he said.
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Dr. Rogy underscored the World Bank’s commitment to supporting the creation of a regional single digital market. “The goals of the project are ambitious, but with coordinated leadership and the continued partnership of development partners, they are within reach. Please count on the World Bank as a committed partner to help deliver on this vision,” he added.
H.E. Mohamed Abdi Ware, Deputy Executive Secretary, IGAD noted that strong coordination between IGAD and EAC remains essential for developing a harmonised regional digital infrastructure, policy, regulatory, and legal framework. He further noted that in addition to enhancing cross-border digital connectivity, harmonizing cybersecurity and data governance, promoting digital trade, EARDIP is also strengthening regional ICT institutions; all critical pillars for socio-economic transformation and integration.