EAC pushes quality standards to help small businesses compete in wider markets

By Elias Hakizimana.

East African businesses need affordable certification, stronger quality management systems and harmonised standards to compete in regional and international markets, officials and trade experts have said.

The call was made during the 2026 East African Community (EAC) Regional Quality Awards held in Kigali on November 2, where speakers highlighted how quality standards can improve business competitiveness, build consumer confidence and facilitate cross-border trade.

The ceremony, organised under the European Union-funded Market Access Upgrade Programme II (MARKUP II), brought together regional institutions, development partners and private sector representatives.

Helena Guarin, Team Leader of the Rural Development Section at the Delegation of the European Union to Rwanda, said quality was essential to competitiveness and sustainable economic growth. She highlighted its role in helping businesses improve productivity, produce safer goods and access wider markets.

Through MARKUP II, implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC) in collaboration with the EAC Secretariat and other partners, the EU is supporting businesses and institutions to strengthen quality management and improve access to market information.

Adrian Njau, Trade and Policy Advisor at the East African Business Council, said harmonised EAC standards could increase intra-regional trade by reducing unnecessary costs and delays.

Citing a 2019 EABC study, he said adopting and complying with harmonised standards could increase intra-EAC trade by more than 10 per cent and reduce border clearance times from 10 days to half a day.

Participants follow proceedings during the 2026 East African Community Regional Quality Awards held at Mövenpick Hotel in Kigali on November 2.

However, he identified high certification costs, limited awareness of standards and inconsistent implementation of mutual recognition arrangements as challenges facing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).

Sandra Uwera, African Regional Director at ITC, said quality should not be viewed merely as a certification requirement but as an investment that helps businesses improve operations, reduce losses and build customer trust.

She said MARKUP II had strengthened six national quality associations and supported more than 100 quality champions, who had provided training and coaching to over 300 SMEs.

Emmanuel Gatera, National Standards Division Manager at the Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and Chairperson of the EAC Regional Quality Awards Task Force, highlighted efforts to strengthen quality infrastructure across the region, including standards development, laboratory testing, certification and inspection services.

He also presented the EAC Quality for Trade platform, which provides SMEs with information on standards, market requirements, quality experts and practical business experiences. Its tools include Quality Compass, Quality Connect and Quality Success, designed to help businesses understand requirements, find support and learn from other enterprises.

Gatera said stronger laboratory capacity, harmonised standards and reliable testing and certification services were essential to building confidence in East African products and facilitating trade across borders.

SMEs need practical support

Annette Semuwemba Mutaawe, EAC Deputy Secretary-General in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, said small improvements in production processes, customer service and waste reduction could help businesses build lasting reputations and become more competitive.

Chantal Tuyishimire, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Trade and Industry, said many small businesses still struggle to understand and meet the standards required to access formal markets.

She cited the example of a woman producing honey who attracted interest from a hotel but could not secure the business because she lacked information about obtaining the required certification.

Tuyishimire said such cases highlight the need to make information and certification services more accessible, particularly to entrepreneurs outside Kigali. She also called for greater investment in testing laboratories so businesses can establish whether their products meet required standards before taking them to market.

According to research she cited, enterprises obtaining the RSB quality mark could record profit increases of more than 40 per cent.

She urged businesses to diversify their products and take advantage of regional markets, while calling on regulators to harmonise procedures and avoid imposing unnecessary costs.

The awards were held alongside the 26th EAC Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Trade Fair in Kigali, as part of efforts to promote a culture of quality and strengthen the competitiveness of East African businesses.

theinspirerpublications@gmail.com

Related photos: