Participants from JICA, the AfCFTA Secretariat, AUDA-NEPAD, and the EAC
Overview
Event Name: JICA, AfCFTA Secretariat, and AUDA-NEPAD Joint Trade Facilitation Workshop
Dates: June 2–3, 2026
Co-organized by: JICA, the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)
Key participants: Approximately 30 people from JICA, the AfCFTA Secretariat, AUDA-NEPAD, the East African Community (EAC), the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the Northern Corridor Transport and Transit Coordination Agency (NCTTCA) attended.
Contents
On June 2–3, 2026, in Mombasa, Kenya, JICA held a workshop on trade facilitation in Africa as the second joint initiative among three organizations: the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). On the 2nd, in addition to the three organizations, representatives from the EAC also participated in the workshop. They shared information on regional integration, corridor development, and trade facilitation activities, and deepened their understanding of each organization’s work. On the 3rd, all participants toured the Port of Mombasa to observe its operations and exchanged views.
Lively discussions took place among JICA, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and AUDA-NEPAD at the Trade Facilitation Workshop.
(1) Trade Facilitation Workshop (June 2)
At this workshop, which served as a forum for an exchange of views at the working level among the three organizations—JICA, the AfCFTA Secretariat, and AUDA-NEPAD—lively discussions took place regarding trade facilitation activities and challenges on the ground.
An Overview of the Current Status and Challenges in Trade Facilitation
JICA experts seconded to the EAC from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) participated in the event, and each organization presented its activities related to trade facilitation (including the Kenya Office’s initiatives regarding the Northern Corridor). In particular, regarding the relationship between AUDA-NEPAD and the AfCFTA Secretariat, participants recognized that due to differences in their years of establishment (AUDA-NEPAD was established in 2018—evolving from the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency in 2010— the AfCFTA Secretariat in 2020), there is a possibility that some of their operations (such as the preparation of reports related to trade facilitation) may overlap; therefore, it was mutually recognized that ongoing discussions are necessary to clarify these matters moving forward.
The AfCFTA Secretariat noted that trade facilitation is achieved through customs, procedures, and digital integration, and emphasized the importance of harmonizing regulations and operating systems across the entire African continent. In particular, the report highlighted that simplifying procedures through a single declaration and a single guarantee, as well as data sharing among customs authorities, are key to this effort. To that end, the Secretariat reported that it is moving forward with initiatives such as gathering information on transit cargo, facilitating data sharing among customs authorities, and digitizing certificates of origin.
AUDA-NEPAD noted that regional integration cannot be achieved through infrastructure development and trade facilitation alone, and that the key lies in linking corridor development with industrialization. It was noted that while the Africa Infrastructure Development Program (PIDA) has listed numerous projects to date, these need to be redesigned on a corridor-by-corridor basis, and caution is required as standalone projects may not be viable. It was also emphasized that designing investable projects is crucial for attracting private capital.
Sharing of Knowledge Between ASEAN and Japan
During the discussion session, participants asked questions regarding infrastructure development and the structure of trade and industry in ASEAN countries and how these contribute to trade facilitation. Representatives from JICA (including technical advisors and EAC experts) shared insights on the differences in characteristics between ASEAN—where infrastructure development is driven by the private sector—and Africa, where integration is driven by institutional frameworks.
Through this workshop, the approaches of each organization toward trade facilitation became clearer, and an important step was taken toward further strengthening cooperation among the three organizations.
(2) Tour of modern port operations at Terminal 2 of Mombasa Port (June 3)
The day after the workshop, the delegation toured the modern port operations at Terminal 2 of Mombasa Port—which was developed with a yen loan—including quay cranes, container yards, scanning facilities, and standard-gauge rail (SGR), among other facilities. They also examined the East African Community (EAC)’s “Single Customs Territory ( SCT), we observed customs officials from Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Burundi, South Sudan, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo—who are stationed within the Port of Mombasa—pre-processing cargo destined for their respective countries (which simplifies procedures at the borders of landlocked nations and reduces transit times). Participants noted that they had come to recognize that trade facilitation is not merely a matter of infrastructure development, but rather a system that integrates ports, customs, digitization, and interregional cooperation.
Group photo taken in front of Terminal 2 at Mombasa Port, which was constructed with a yen loan (Photo courtesy of AUDA-NEPAD)
At Terminal 2 of the Port of Mombasa, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), and the Northern Corridor Transport and Transit Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) provided briefings on their respective initiatives and on cargo clearance and import/export procedures at the Port of Mombasa, followed by an exchange of views.
Scene from the discussions at the Port of Mombasa, which also included the KPA, KRA, and NCTTCA
A Look at Terminal 2
Scanner Monitoring Room
Installation of a Container Cargo Scanner and Cargo Tracking System
Uganda Customs Office, a member of the EAC, stationed within the KRA
Future Outlook and Strengthening Cooperation
For many participants from the AfCFTA Secretariat and AUDA-NEPAD, this was their first visit to ports in East Africa, and They noted that this workshop went beyond simply understanding the activities of each organization; by actually visiting the sites, they were able to gain a deep understanding of the realities of trade facilitation and the initiatives being promoted by the EAC to support it. As a result, they expressed high praise for JICA, which spearheaded the organization of this workshop.
In addition, during the tour of modern port operations at Terminal 2 of Mombasa Port on the second day, the participants recognized these as exemplary practices in efficient customs operations and trade facilitation, and agreed to share them within the African region in the future. Representatives from each organization expressed their hope that such opportunities for knowledge sharing—combining workshops with on-site visits—would continue in the future.
JICA will continue to support regional integration and trade facilitation in Africa and work toward sustainable development.
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