Somalia has launched a National Monitoring Committee (NMC) on the Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to “unlock regional trade opportunities.”
Somalia has also “established technical committees to fast-track the implementation of the East Africa Community’s Customs Union and Common Market protocols, as well as other ongoing bilateral trade engagements, particularly with Kenya.”
🇸🇴 Somalia officially launches its National Monitoring Committee (NMC) on Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs).
The NMC will lead the identification, reporting & resolution of NTBs through regional mechanisms such as the EAC NTB App & Tripartite Online Reporting Platform pic.twitter.com/f5lGo1NeuG
— East African Community (@jumuiya) April 17, 2025
The NMC comprises representatives from 16 public sector institutions and eight key private sector associations.
It will lead NTB identification, reporting, and resolution via regional mechanisms like the EAC NTB Mobile Application, the Tripartite Online Reporting Platform, and quarterly national coordination meetings.
EAC Deputy Secretary General Annette Ssemuwemba stated, “The launch of the National Monitoring Committee is more than a procedural step; it is a symbol of institutional readiness and a shared commitment to unlocking regional trade opportunities. Somalia’s entry into the EAC brings dynamic potential and opens a new trade frontier.”
Mohammed Isaac Ibrahim, Somalia’s Director General for EAC Affairs, affirmed, “This launch reflects not only our institutional preparedness but also our political commitment to advancing regional trade and integration.”
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry will chair the NMC, with the Somalia Chamber of Commerce and Industry as co-chair.
