Two major regional bodies have signed a three-year agreement to reduce cross-border trade costs and simplify procedures across the Great Lakes region. The Forum of Parliaments of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (FP-ICGLR) and the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTTFA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Dar es Salaam to strengthen regional integration, harmonise legislation and improve transport connectivity. The Central Corridor connects Burundi, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia.
High transport costs, complex border procedures and inconsistent national laws have constrained regional economic potential, according to FP-ICGLR Secretary General Ambassador Dr Deo Mwapinga. These challenges affect farmers seeking to access markets, businesses expanding across borders and consumers paying higher prices for essential goods. Inconsistent customs requirements, transit procedures and differing regulations increase costs, delay deliveries and create uncertainty for companies moving goods across several countries. Dr Mwapinga said the value of regional integration should be measured by improvements in citizens' daily lives, including easier trade, more reliable services and greater economic opportunity.
The partnership will connect parliamentary cooperation with practical transport and trade facilitation measures, translating regional commitments into national policies and legislation. The institutions will promote parliamentary dialogue on corridor development, transport connectivity and trade facilitation, support harmonisation of legislation governing transit and customs, and cooperate on infrastructure financing and transparent Public-Private Partnerships. They will also conduct joint research, training, workshops and policy exchanges on corridor performance, trade flows and non-tariff barriers. Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency Executive Secretary Advocate Okandju Flory said the agreement would strengthen political support for corridor priorities and improve legal and policy alignment.
The partnership explicitly recognises the importance of ensuring that regional trade benefits women, young people, small-scale traders and communities along transport routes. Dr Mwapinga said women engaged in cross-border trade contributed significantly to household incomes and regional economies, and their experiences should inform reforms to make trade safer, simpler and more accessible. For small-scale traders, costly transport and complicated procedures currently limit access to customers and wider markets.
To implement the agreement, each institution will appoint focal points within 30 days. They will prepare a joint work plan within 90 days outlining activities, expected outputs, timelines and responsibilities. A Joint Steering Committee will review progress at least once a year. The agreement does not create automatic financial obligations; activities requiring funding will be covered by separate written agreements. The institutions plan regional engagements including a Women's Parliamentary Conference scheduled for Dar es Salaam in early November and a Public-Private Partnership symposium planned for Luanda, Angola, on 23 November.
For businesses, the practical impact will depend on how effectively the institutions reduce border delays, improve regulatory consistency and lower the cost of moving goods across national boundaries. Small and medium-sized enterprises, which often have limited resources to absorb additional transport and compliance costs, stand to benefit if the planned reforms simplify procedures and improve access to neighbouring markets. However, harmonising legislation and strengthening parliamentary oversight will require sustained cooperation among national governments, transport agencies and border authorities. Differences in implementation, inadequate infrastructure and persistent non-tariff barriers could continue to undermine progress.