Bujumbura, Burundi (Feb. 18, 2025) — Efforts to strengthen policy advocacy for the services sector in East Africa are gaining traction as business leaders and policymakers push for institutionalized dialogue and regulatory reforms.
With services contributing between 40% and 55% of the East African Community (EAC) GDP, stakeholders emphasize the need for a robust advocacy agenda to remove regulatory barriers and enhance regional integration.
“Services such as tourism, telecommunications, education, and finance drive economic growth, create jobs, and improve living standards,” said Bobby Ndizeye, director of customs, trade, industry, and investment in Burundi’s Ministry of EAC Affairs. “To fully harness this potential, we need a strong advocacy agenda and institutionalized dialogue among stakeholders.”
Boaz Nimpe, an EABC board director, stressed the importance of structured engagement between the private sector and governments. “An institutionalized dialogue mechanism will strengthen advocacy and unlock the full potential of the services sector as a driver of economic growth, competitiveness, and regional integration,” Nimpe said.
Despite commitments under the EAC Common Market Protocol (CMP) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), regulatory barriers continue to limit services sector growth. Yves Desire Bagabo, representing the Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burundi (CFCIB), called for better alignment of national policies with regional frameworks. “Burundi has already liberalized seven sectors under the EAC CMP and five under AfCFTA,” Bagabo said. “Further liberalization is needed to create a more seamless regional market.”
Annette Kenganzi, senior export promotion officer at the EAC Secretariat, reaffirmed the EAC’s commitment to expanding trade in services. “Despite commitments to remove restrictions in key sectors such as business, communication, transport, distribution, education, tourism, and finance, significant barriers remain,” Kenganzi said. She urged the private sector to push for policy changes that would open up additional sectors, including health, social services, recreation, energy, and construction.
Lamech Wesonga, economic policy advisor on AfCFTA for EAC-GIZ, underscored the importance of sustained advocacy and stronger private sector participation. “GIZ remains committed to supporting private sector engagement with governments to enhance trade in services within the EAC and globally,” Wesonga said.
Key stakeholders from business services, communication and ICT, tourism, transport, distribution, and environmental services are now working to advance policy reforms that will unlock new opportunities for economic growth and regional integration.
