Read < 1 minute

Kenya and Uganda have taken steps to break down some of the barriers preventing business growth between the two nations.

At a business forum in Kampala, Kenya agreed to ease the granting of permits for Ugandan traders exporting the nation’s surplus sugar to the Kenyan market.

In return, Uganda has pledged to allow Kenyan beef access to its local market.

Currently the trade balance is heavily tilted in Kenya’s favour with Kenyan exports to Uganda worth more than $590 million in 2014. While Ugandan exports to Kenya were valued at $168 million in 2014.

Kenya has more than 350 companies investing in Uganda with the value of its investment portfolio estimated to be at $800 million.