A Presidential Directive of 2019 to establish cross border markets in Busia, Isebania, and Taita Taveta is being implemented and this will see traders in Busia benefit from the construction of the Jumuiya cross border market.
The Market will occupy 40-acres of land with its full completion
costing Kes. 2Billion for 3 phases that will carry a retail section, a
wholesale section, and a business hub.
The retail section will host at least 2000 traders and will include all-weather stores, stalls, and cold rooms. Among the benefits of the project is reducing post-harvest losses that often occur due to lack of storage facilities for fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish. The Jumuiya market will provide a secure environment that will accommodate among other things cold rooms for perishable products.
One of the biggest challenges facing cross border traders is
access to market information such as price of products, suppliers among others
thus hindering their competitiveness. To counter these, the market will provide
a channel where government and other partners can provide trade and market
information to traders.
This project is enabled through the collaboration of The TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) and The Ministry of East Africa Community. The construction of the retail section is expected to be completed by 2022.
The Busia cross border market is an addition to the milestones achieved for the region which include, the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) opened in February 2018, following coordinated efforts between the governments of Uganda and Kenya.
By bringing all border-crossing procedures and customs clearances under one roof, the post has made it easier, cheaper, and safer for traders to move back and forth.
Enhanced corporation between states has increased trade among countries in East Africa. In the first three months of 2020 Kenya’s exports to EAC partner states grew by 30 percent to Sh42.9 billion from Sh.32.92 billion in the same period in 2019.
