Expanding a business beyond national borders remains difficult for many women entrepreneurs in THE East African Community (EAC), even as the region pushes to make trade between member states easier.

The issue was discussed at the East African Women in Trade Awards, held in Kigali on Sunday, November 1, as part of the week-long 26th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair.

Flavia Busingye, Acting Director of Customs at the EAC Secretariat, said the bloc had introduced several trade facilitation measures, including the Simplified Trade Regime, to ease cross-border trade.

However, she noted that having such measures in place did not necessarily mean traders were benefiting from them.

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"Having a regional market is one thing, but also enabling business to access and compete in the market is another.”

Busingye identified limited access to information and financing, difficulties meeting product standards and lengthy customs procedures as some of the barriers affecting women entrepreneurs seeking to trade across the region.

She said the EAC needed to ensure that women understood and could make use of the trade arrangements available to them.

"In terms of the customs processes and procedures, we have undertaken a number of simplifications, but then how do we allow ourselves to cross the borders with less difficulty?” she asked.

The Simplified Trade Regime is intended to make small-scale cross-border trade easier by reducing customs procedures and documentation requirements for eligible goods.

In February 2026, the EAC Secretariat said intra-community trade had remained at approximately 15 per cent of total trade for more than a decade, below the region’s estimated potential of between 30 and 50 per cent or higher.

The bloc also identified persistent non-tariff barriers, inconsistent application of trade rules, duplicative inspections and high transport costs among the obstacles affecting regional commerce.

Chantal Tuyishimire, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said women play a significant role in both formal and informal cross-border trade.

"The money women earn does not benefit them alone. It also supports their families and contributes to the wider economy,” she said.

However, she said women continue to face barriers to accessing finance, overcoming language barriers and navigating social expectations that can limit their business opportunities.

She also noted that many women continue to operate businesses closer to their home, saying they need support to expand their operations, move into larger premises and create jobs without neglecting their household responsibilities.

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"It&039;s time that we all take a chance, either governments but also everyone, development partners, to take time to understand the needs of these women and develop initiatives that help them grow their businesses,” she said.

To strengthen women's participation in regional trade, the EAC, in partnership with the East African Business Council (EABC) and the East African Women in Business Platform, established the East African Women in Trade Champions Initiative, supported by GIZ-LIFTED, a programme co-financed by the European Union and the German government.

The initiative provides mentorship, training and networking opportunities to help women-led businesses expand their market reach.

So far, 32 women entrepreneurs from EAC Partner States have been recognised as Women in Trade Champions and Mentees for their contribution to regional trade and economic integration.

Betty Poni Cosmas, founder of Naponi Enterprise, a business based in Juba, South Sudan, said operating a business in the country came with challenges.

Her participation in the East African Women in Trade initiative had helped her improve her operations and access new opportunities.

"Through the programme, we received training on proper product packaging, including the use of food-grade materials. Being part of the platform has also opened up opportunities to connect with new markets and potential business partners beyond South Sudan,” she said.

She also received a grant from the African Development Bank, which enabled her to purchase more raw materials and increase her business capacity.

Djete Sagoh, Representative of the European Union Delegation to Tanzania and EAC, said the bloc was supporting initiatives to help women-owned businesses meet export requirements and access wider markets.

"We are aiming at empowering women in terms of export readiness and standards, so that they can export not only within the EAC and Europe, but also take advantage of the African Continental Free Trade Area,” he said.

The €40 million programme, running from 2023 to 2027, covers Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. It supports small and medium-sized enterprises, with a focus on improving market access, product quality, certification and export capacity.