The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat has launched an upgraded Single Customs Territory (SCT) Centralised Platform, designed to facilitate seamless and efficient cross-border trade among partner states.
The platform, unveiled at the EAC Secretariat Headquarters during the International Customs Day celebration, enables real-time data exchange between customs and port authorities across the region.
EAC Secretary General Veronica Nduva emphasized the platform’s crucial role in advancing regional integration by addressing key challenges such as customs clearance delays, non-tariff barriers, and high transaction costs.
“The Single Customs Territory was established in 2014 to simplify and automate the movement of goods across the EAC,” said Nduva. “The Centralised Platform, with its real-time data sharing capabilities, is a cornerstone of this framework.”
During the celebrations of #InternationalCustomsDay,EAC @SGnduva launched the Single Customs Territory Centralised Platform,a tool designed to facilitate the seamless exchange of customs & trade data in real-time among interconnected Partner States’ Customs PortsAuthorities pic.twitter.com/gx7PBwF8Jb
— East African Community (@jumuiya) January 27, 2025
Since its initial implementation in 2017, the platform has evolved to encompass a wider range of trade activities, including maritime trade, management of Regional Authorised Economic Operators, and the sharing of scanner images between Kenya and Uganda to enhance transparency.
Nduva highlighted the significant impact of other SCT initiatives, including the establishment of over 15 One-Stop Border Posts, which have reduced border crossing times by 70% and saved $63 million annually.
“We have also successfully resolved 274 Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) since 2007, and the introduction of the NTB App has simplified the reporting process,” she added.
Erick Sirali, Director of Digital Trade at TradeMark Africa, commended the platform’s role in automating customs processes, stating, “These initiatives, including the Centralised Platform, ensure faster and more efficient clearance of goods, reducing delays, enhancing transparency, and enabling the smooth movement of goods, ultimately benefiting the people of East Africa.”
Currently, customs systems in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, and Burundi, as well as port authorities in Kenya and Tanzania, are connected to the platform.
Plans are underway to further expand connectivity across the region.
