
Original Language
English
ISBN
978-92-9268-961-2
ISBN (PDF)
978-92-9268-962-9
Number of Pages
84
Reference Number
PUB2024/012/EL
Year of Publication
2024
Review of Existing Schemes to Facilitate the Cross‑border Movement of Traders in the COMESA Region
This report compares and contrasts the different policies and mechanisms that have been put in place in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) region and beyond to aid the movement and businesses of small-scale cross-border traders. Developed under the auspices of the European Union-funded Small-scale Cross-border Trade Initiative, the report highlights the growing importance of small-scale trade and how different countries in the region have sought to tap into its massive potential. Based on the field visits and research conducted, the report makes six recommendations to help harness the development potential of small-scale cross-border trade, especially as it relates to human mobility.
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- LIST OF TABLES
- LIST OF FIGURES
- EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
- INTRODUCTION
- Cross‑border trade in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
- Migration and trade facilitation
- Project objective
- Structure of the report
- LITERATURE REVIEW
- International experience and lessons
- European Union
- Cambodia–Thailand
- Regional experience and lessons
- Goma–Gisenyi (Democratic Republic of the Congo–Rwanda)
- Kasumbalesa (Democratic Republic of the Congo–Zambia)
- General trends in the Common Market for Eastern and
- International experience and lessons
- Southern Africa region
- Rwanda laissez‑passer
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Passenger and
- Cargo Manifest System
- Zambia cross‑border permit and the Common Market for Eastern
- and Southern Africa market
- REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS FOR THE MOBILITY OF TRADERS
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa frameworks
- Protocols
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Model Law on Immigration
- Minimum standards for cross‑border traders
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, East African Community
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa frameworks
- and Southern African Development Community Tripartite Free Trade Area
- Frameworks from other regions
- Southern African Development Authority and African Union treaties
- East African Community identity card for travel
- Economic Community of West African States treaties and initiatives
- Individual mobility schemes
- Passport
- Jeton
- eJeton
- Laissez‑passer versus identity card for travel
- Cross-cutting considerations: Incorporating space for local realities
- Frameworks from other regions
- in any framework
- Conditions of entry and stay for cross‑border traders
- REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS FOR SMALL-SCALE TRADE IN GOODS
- Simplified trade regime
- Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Simplified Trade Regime
- Aims of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Simplified
- Trade Regime
- Legal basis and development of the Common Market for Eastern
- and Southern Africa Simplified Trade Regime
- Implementation of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
- Simplified Trade Regime
- Achievements of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa
- Simplified Trade Regime
- Gender and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa Simplified
- Trade Regime
- Challenges facing the simplified trade scheme
- East African Community Simplified Trade Regime
- What is the East African Community Simplified Trade Regime
- Small‑scale differences between the Common Market for Eastern and
- Southern Africa Simplified Trade Regime and the East African Community
- Simplified Trade Regime
- De minimis
- LESSONS FROM FIELDWORK
- Schemes and processes for facilitating the movement of traders
- Jeton
- Laissez‑passer
- Other documents used at border points
- Schemes and processes for facilitating the movement of goods
- Simplified trade regime
- No mobility schemes
- Access to markets
- Goma–Gisenyi
- Kasumbalesa
- Schemes and processes for facilitating the movement of traders
- RECOMMENDATIONS
- Individual mobility schemes
- Jeton
- eJeton
- Laissez‑passer
- Advantages and disadvantages of individual mobility schemes
- Goods mobility schemes
- Goods mobility scheme recommendations
- Advantages and disadvantages of goods mobility schemes
- Taking local realities into account
- Market access recommendations
- Individual mobility schemes
- CONCLUSION
- ANNEX
- Contact list of ministry officials, cross‑border traders associations,
- trade information desk officers and other stakeholders