Present during the meeting were;
1. Sakina Asman- KNCCI Communications Officer
2. Beatrice Kosgey- General Manger, legal Affairs and Company Secretary GDC
3. Dr. George Muia- general Manager, Research and Innovation GDC
4. Wanjiru Kamara- Manager, Corporate Communications GDC

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The ripple effect of COVID-19 on economic activities, livelihoods and food security in East Africa and the Great Lakes. Governments throughout the region moved swiftly to adopt far-reaching measures to limit the spread of COVID-19, including the closure of international borders, movement restrictions, curfews and lockdowns.

While these measures appear to have curbed the pandemic’s progression, its negative repercussions have led to a near-total halt to air transport, tourism, agriculture and other extractive industry activities.

To discuss the impact of Covid-19 in Africa and the future of Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) in partnership with the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), East Africa Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, the Great Lakes Region Private Sector Forum organized a webinar session to discuss and identify opportunities for Covid-19 recovery mechanism and way forward for AfCFTA trade and integration.

To help consolidate the highlights KNCCI together with the fore mentioned partners brought on board panelist representatives from: Secretary General of the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Ms. Olive Kigongo; Chairman of the East Africa Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture Mr. Kahotho; Director UNECA- Regional Integration and Trade Division, Mr. Stephen Karingi, PhD; Director, UNECA- ECA Sub-Regional Office for East Africa, Mama Keita, Senior Trade Advisor Ministry of Trade ,Mr. George DInda

Topics Discussed.

• Opportunities that AfCFTA presents
• Impact of Covid-19 on trade Facilitation and Performance in Africa
• Mechanism put in place to support regional markets and supply chain stabilization in the post Covid-19
• Possible Economic Stimulus and Fiscal measures taken to cushion businesses
• Critical economic sectors that needs priority in the Covid-19 recovery process
• Impact of Covid-19 on the EAC businesses and the Government Responses
• Post Covid-19 economic recovery measures that needs to be implemented to support private sector to contribute to the AfCFTA and Trade Integration Agenda

1. Opportunities that AfCFTA presents

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement presents Africa with a unique opportunity to unleash its economic potential for inclusive growth and sustainable development.  It aims to promote agricultural transformation and growth in Africa and contribute to food security, as well as improve competitiveness through regional agricultural value chains development and incentivize critical investments in production and marketing infrastructure.

In his opening remarks, the UNECA Regional Director, Integration and Trade Division, Dr. Stephen Karingi stated that that AfCFTA has the potential to deepen not only the regional integration of the continent but also has allowed the African countries to do more of value addition in the production processes. According to UNECA, it is estimated that by 2020, AfCFTA will increase significantly and that two-thirds of this increase would be on value addition.

Dr. Karingi, said the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) could help mitigate effects of COVID-19, especially on pharmaceuticals and food stuffs.

“A rapid and ambitious implementation of the AfCFTA will go a long way in hastening the recovery from COVID-19 impacts, while cushioning Africa against future adverse effects of shocks such as this,” said Dr. Karingi.

Africa spends billions on drugs annually and depends heavily on China and other countries in Europe and Asia for its pharmaceutical supply, some of which are badly affected by the current COVID-19 pandemic.

Mr. Karingi said African countries could start manufacturing the drugs themselves, which would not only be cheaper, but would also help secure the quality and safety of supply; and contribute to financial sustainability as import bills are increasing across the continent.

AfCFTA had agreed on five priority services – financial services, communication, transport, tourism and business services – and will engage in the negotiations through a request and offer process to make specific sector commitments. Due to Covid-19 the member’s states are now re negotiating to add services such as E-commerce, Health and Digital Education.

In the ensuing discussion, the EACCIA Chairman, Mr. Kahotho echoed that critical role KNCCI has to play for the successful implementation of the AfCFTA agenda. Mandated to facilitate trade, KNCCI must see that during this time of the pandemic, trade must be facilitated so that jobs can be created and also to see that we add value to our natural resources.

2. Possible Economic Stimulus and Fiscal measures taken to cushion businesses

The UNECA – ECA Sub – Regional Office for East Africa, Mama Keita stated that the Covid -19 crisis has shown the role that the state must play in the development process in the respective countries. Most countries are now rising to the challenge and cushioning businesses through the following measures:

• A liquidity be made available to the private sector to ensure the continuity of essential purchases and all SMEs that are dependent on trade can continue to function.
• Emergency economic stimulus.
• Waiver of all interest payments
• Flexibility in taxation
• Payments of areas to private sectors
• And Government provision of guarantors to SMEs
• Subsidies

3. Critical economic sectors that needs priority in the Covid-19 recovery process

• Health
• Tourism
• Logistics
• Constructions
• Domestic markets
• Agriculture

4. Mechanism put in place to support regional markets and supply chain stabilization in the post Covid-19

According to the Ugandan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Secretary General, Ms. Brenda, Uganda Has put the following measures;

• Support to domestic markets and encouragement of consumption of domestic goods
• Allowing movement of essential goods and services by not restricting the logistic industry
• Ensuring that there are adequate storage facilities to cushion spoilage of perishable goods
• Encouraging value addition to the agricultural sector products

5. Impact of Covid-19 on the EAC businesses and the Government Responses

• Inadequate access to sourcing raw materials
• Facing cross border restrictions
• Decline of Export market
• Decline in sales

6. Post Covid-19 economic recovery measures that needs to be implemented to support private sector to contribute to the AfCFTA and Trade Integration Agenda.

• Consumption of local products
• Securing the demand and supply for locally produced goods
• Support innovation, manufacturing
• African Countries should trade amongst themselves
• There must be access to liquidity and new financial means in the future
• Deepen and strengthen the African financial markets
• Resource mobilization
• Ensuring competitiveness amongst African countries
• Deepening regional value chain

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The meeting was held to discuss the following:

Collaborative support on relief, both health and economic targeting vulnerable populations and SMEs with greater focus on post Covid-19

• Roll out Interventions that will cushion population against the current floods, food shortage and interruption of normal essential services by the Covid-19 Pandemic
• Support public health education, preparedness and measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19
• Strengthening the capacity of businesses on continuity and survival of SMEs
• Improve food nutrition security, and improve the quality of natural resources and ecosystem services amongst others.

The delegation agreed to engage further and to commit on the level of implementation of the MoU in the next 3 years in order to deliver on its expected outcome.

They expressed satisfaction over the MoU scope of cooperation and implementation matrix.

They agreed to consider expediting the finalization of this MoU, expressing gratitude to KNCCI and HRI for offering its consent in this regard.

The meeting agreed to endeavor to revert by Monday 18th May 2020 on the process of internal consultations by respective organizations based on the discussions of the meeting.

The meeting was grace by Hon. Abdul Bahari Ali, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of Devolution and ASAL.

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During their discussion, H. E Ambassador Joseph stated the need to have a more interactive trade between the Countries through Identification of importers/exporters from Kenya as a gateway to open and improving businesses in Sierra Leone.

Chamber President on his side noted that Sierra Leone provides a huge market opportunity for Kenya processed consumer goods, pharmaceutical products and therefore Kenya should take advantage of these opportunities to help improve the volume of trade which is currently on the low.

KNCCI President assured the Ambassador of the private sector commitment to promote the exchange of cooperation in education, investment and enhancement of public private partnerships.

The discussions also saw the need of the two Countries establishing a Joint Business Council that will make them work together to promote the Africa Continental Free Trade agenda.

Due to infancy of Sierra Leone’s economy, Kenya can provide the much needed human resource in areas of IT, Medicine, engineering, manufacturing and industrial development, transport and logistics, Agribusiness and agro processing.

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The ministry has asked players in the informal sector, commonly known as jua kali, to work within their associations so as to access opportunities as project suppliers for Nairobi’s Starehe and Shauri Moyo estates.

Housing PS Charles Hinga said the ministry has ring-fenced some components used in construction of homes to ensure that the jua kali sector can supply inputs to the programme.

“The jua kali sector is a big contributor to employment in the country and a key enabler of the manufacturing sector. We are keen to upskill them to enable them to contribute to this national development project while supporting their growth,” Mr Hinga said.

KNCCI is recognized by the Ministry of Transport, Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development as a strategic partner to support the MSMEs (Juakali) to access the AHP business opportunities through linkages with various financial institutions countrywide.

The ministry is encouraging players in the informal sector to form and register associations to provide construction components and materials for the Affordable Housing Programme. “We have ring-fenced 69 items which must be supplied by our jua kali sector,” he said, adding that to enable funding, a multi-agency committee led by National Construction Authority (NCA) will provide the players with 30 per cent advance payment upon successful bidding.

Industrialization PS Francis Owino said the informal sector is critical to achieving the Big Four Agenda, especially the manufacturing pillar. “The informal sector has the greatest potential to enable the realisation of the Big Four Agenda and economic growth as they are critical players in the production of construction sector materials and components, and are a key contributor to employment creation,” Mr Owino said.

They spoke after launching the jua kali production manual for the components of the programme that will provide stakeholders with knowledge on the standards required to design and manufacture items for the government’s affordable housing projects.

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In 2017 KNCCI and Bogota Chamber of Commerce signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at providing a general framework for, and to facilitate cooperation between, KNCCI and Bogota Chamber in promoting the economic development and enhancing trade linkages between Kenya and Colombia.

In June 2019, Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) organized a trade mission to Bogota, Colombia scouting for trade opportunities for Kenyan businesses in promising emerging markets. This mission has made the Latin America to recognize the immense potential in the emerging markets of Africa and is working diligently to penetrate newer markets within the African continent.

Kenya can benefit from Colombia mining sector, Coffee, export-oriented agricultural sector ICT, Agricultural machinery, bananas, emeralds, cut flowers, and a diversified industrial base. On the other hand Colombia imports industrial equipment, transportation equipment, consumer goods, chemicals, paper products, fuels and electricity.

Affordable Housing

Affordable Housing is one of the pillars under the Big 4 Agenda. H. E Elizabeth Taylor stated that Kenya should borrow from Colombia Social housing Programme (Mi Casa Ya: My House Now) which has so far seen Colombia building up to 2 million affordable houses and 20,000 free housing for very poor people. Chamber President Mr. Richard Nga’tia stated that Kenya should collaborate with Colombian companies to enable get quality and innovative construction materials.

Tourism

Colombia is one of the largest tourist attraction countries in the world and attracts over 6 million tourist every year. The Ambassador suggested that Kenya should ensure that they have good branding through brand Kenya to Market its tourism sector, link their tourism products to the livelihood of the people, create confidence in the country, have value addition to their lakes and have good tourism infrastructure.

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