Perez Ochieng, CEO of Sacoma Global Foods Innovation, addressed the 14th UK–Africa Business Summit, raising critical concerns about the challenges of trading agricultural commodities within the East African Community (EAC). Speaking from her experience as an importer and exporter, Ochieng stressed that regulatory barriers continued to complicate cross-border trade within the EAC, as well as with international markets such as the UK.

“Despite the East African Community being a single market, we face numerous challenges when trading commodities like coffee and beans across member states,” Ochieng said. She pointed to the need for separate certifications in Uganda and Kenya—even within the same bloc—adding unnecessary complexity for businesses exporting goods to the UK.

She also highlighted the absence of comprehensive trade agreements between the UK and most East African nations, noting that only Kenya had a formal partnership. This, she explained, left other countries, such as Uganda, without streamlined frameworks, making it difficult to export commodities like honey. “It is difficult to trade when products from one East African nation are restricted in the UK, while another country’s goods are accepted,” she remarked, underscoring the detrimental impact on smallholder farmers.

In response, an EAC representative acknowledged sovereignty issues and political challenges as barriers to achieving a fully integrated single market. While progress had been made under the Customs Union and Common Market, non-tariff barriers persisted.

Ochieng’s call for more cohesive trade processes and better agreements with the UK resonated strongly with delegates. Her advocacy for smallholder farmers reinforced the urgent need for unified and efficient trade systems to boost market access and support economic growth across East Africa.

Meet Perez Ochieng again at the 15th UK–Africa Business Summit on 12 September 2025 in London, where she will shift focus to food innovation, opportunities with South Korea, and championing agro-industrial growth, food packaging, and resilient supply chains.