Development of the East African Business Council Online Business Directory for EAC EnterprisesRegional Trade Facilitation
Digital presence is crucial for MSMEs business success, many enterprises within the East African Community (EAC) struggle to enhance their online visibility.
Recognizing the challenges of digitalization for East African MSMEs, the East African Business Council (EABC) embarked on a project to develop a comprehensive online business directory. This initiative, in collaboration with Sonet Uganda and Sauti East Africa, aims to connect East African Community businesses, improve their digital footprints, and facilitate economic growth through enhanced business linkages.
challenge
Businesses and companies within the EAC face significant difficulties in boosting their online visibility, which hampers their ability to create effective business linkages. While some businesses have managed to establish a robust online presence, they often remain isolated, making it difficult for potential partners or customers to find them without advanced search skills. Additionally, the absence of a centralized platform for EAC businesses to access funding opportunities further exacerbates their challenges. Entrepreneurs struggle to find funding and capacity development resources, limiting their growth and potential.
project
In response to these challenges, Sauti East Africa worked with EABC to develop an online directory, My East African Soko, funded by the International Trade Centre. This platform was designed to:
- Showcase businesses and companies within the EAC.
- Facilitate virtual transactions and provide real-time currency conversion.
- Highlight popular tourist destinations in East Africa.
The development process involved:
- Creating a user-friendly and accessible platform to enhance the online visibility of EAC enterprises.
- Integrating features that support virtual transactions and currency conversion to facilitate cross-border trade.
- Showcasing tourist destinations to promote the region’s tourism industry.
results
The My East African Soko platform, available at https://smesoko.com/, has significantly enhanced the online visibility of many EAC enterprises. Key outcomes include:
- Increased online presence for businesses, enabling better business linkages within the economic bloc.
- A centralized platform where EAC businesses can access funding opportunities and capacity development resources.
- Enhanced virtual transaction capabilities and real-time currency conversion, making cross-border trade more accessible.
- Promotion of East Africa’s tourism sector by showcasing popular tourist destinations.
Since its launch, My East African Soko has become an essential tool for EAC enterprises, providing a comprehensive solution to enhance their digital presence and facilitate economic growth. This project underscores Sauti East Africa’s commitment to supporting the digitalization of East African enterprises and fostering regional economic integration.
Similar Projects by Sauti
The platform was first released in Kenya and Uganda in 2017 with the East African Sub Regional Support Initiative for the Advancement of Women (EASSI). It was designed to empower women cross-border traders in “low-technology” and periphery areas of Kenya and Uganda to trade legally, profitably, and safely across East African borders.
Current projections of climate change impacts are set to increase the challenges to sustainable agricultural crops and livestock livelihoods throughout Kenya. According to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, “droughts, floods, livestock diseases and armed conflicts are wiping out their livelihoods, underscoring the need for Kenya to help its poorest population adapt by developing sustainable ways of making a living in the drylands.”
