USAID EAST AFRICA TRADE AND INVESTMENT HUB FY2018 ANNUAL DRAFT REPORT

The project aims to improve the policy environment for East African Community integration, trade, and investment. Funding for the project totals $63.9 million, with the Presidential Initiative being Feed the Future. The project goals include improving the policy environment for East African Community integration, trade, and investment, increasing the competitiveness of select regional agricultural value chains, and bolstering regional trade in staple foods. Additionally, the project aims to promote intra-regional and export trade, particularly under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA), and facilitate investment and promote the use of available global technology. Key expected accomplishments include doubling the value of intra-regional trade in the EAC, increasing non-oil exports to the U.S. under AGOA by 40%, fostering 18,500 new full-time equivalent jobs through firms assisted by the East Africa Trade and Investment Hub and its partners, facilitating $100 million of new investments in targeted sectors in the EAC, and increasing the EAC's intra-regional trade in staple foods by 40%. The project is divided into four components: Investment and Technology, Agriculture and Agribusiness, Trade Promotion and AGOA, and Trade Policy and Regulatory Reform. Component 1, Investment and Technology, focuses on facilitating investment and promoting the use of available global technology. Component 2, Agriculture and Agribusiness, aims to increase the competitiveness of select regional agricultural value chains and bolster regional trade in staple foods. Component 3, Trade Promotion and AGOA, promotes intra-regional and export trade, particularly under the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA). Component 4, Trade Policy and Regulatory Reform, aims to improve the policy environment for East African Community integration, trade, and investment. Implementation of the project is ongoing, with progress being monitored and reported on a regular basis. The project has made significant progress in achieving its goals, with notable successes in increasing trade and investment in the region.