Navigating import challenges in East Africa

East African member states have dominated the list of countries that have adequately domesticated the Africa Continental Free Trade Area to facilitate the commencement of trade under the trading bloc's framework. Despite this progress, there are numerous limitations hindering the full realization of the opportunities presented by the trading bloc. Olivier Halindintwari, the CEO and Co-Founder of BeyondL Group, shed light on some of the challenges and strategies to overcome them in a recent interview with CNBC Africa. Halindintwari discussed the company's focus on importing products from France and China to East Africa, with a particular emphasis on pharmaceutical products and cosmetics. He highlighted the need for strategic partnerships to improve the logistics and supply chain processes, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the key challenges mentioned was the high friction, lack of supply chain facilitation, exclusive edge financing, and dispute settlements in the import market. To address these hurdles, Halindintwari emphasized the importance of digital tools and innovations in streamlining the import processes and enhancing regional integration within East Africa. By leveraging digitalization, BeyondL Group aims to minimize costs, overcome language barriers, and improve efficiency in cross-border trade. The company is working towards establishing seamless trade networks between Rwanda, Kenya, and other East African countries to optimize the movement of goods and boost economic growth in the region.