The African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) has issued a $29 million guarantee to BSMART Technology Ltd to support the implementation and expansion of the East African Community Customs Bond, strengthening the financial infrastructure behind a digital system designed to facilitate the movement of goods across regional borders.
The facility is intended to improve the market uptake of the EAC Customs Bond, enabling clearing and forwarding agents, guarantors and customs authorities to access customs guarantees through a digital platform rather than relying on physical documentation at each border.
The intervention comes as East African countries seek to reduce administrative barriers and improve customs integration, key requirements for lowering the cost and time associated with cross-border trade.
Afreximbank said the guarantee builds on its collaboration with the EAC Secretariat and its wider efforts to develop regional customs guarantee systems through the Afreximbank African Collaborative Transit Guarantee Scheme (AACTGS).
Digital Platform Targets Border Delays
The EAC Customs Bond is designed to eliminate the need for physical bond documentation to be posted at individual border points for goods entering and exiting countries along transit routes.
Under the digital platform, an agent transporting goods across multiple countries can complete the customs bond process digitally, reducing repetitive submissions and the risk of delays associated with paper-based procedures.
The facility is expected to expand access to customs guarantee capacity, reduce administrative and documentation requirements and support faster movement of goods across East Africa.
Afreximbank said the initiative also contributes to the broader objective of increasing intra-African trade by strengthening digital customs infrastructure.
“This facility demonstrates Afreximbank’s commitment to developing practical solutions that break down the barriers to intra-African trade. With the EAC Customs Bond, we are supporting the digitisation and simplification of access to customs guarantees for businesses moving goods across the region – cutting costs and improving the efficiency of customs procedures,” said Kanayo Awani, Executive Vice President, Intra-African Trade and Export Development at Afreximbank.
“The Bond complements Afreximbank’s broader AACTGS programme to strengthen capacity across Africa. It deepens our relationship with the EAC Secretariat and other stakeholders, including the regional economic commissions. Above all, this intervention aligns with the Bank’s mandate to support the implementation of the AfCFTA and accelerate the integration of African markets.”
EAC Customs Bond Moves From Pilot to Regional Expansion
Afreximbank’s support follows the pilot phase of the EAC Customs Bond in Uganda in August 2025, with Rwanda and Burundi joining the platform in January 2026.
The Bond was officially launched during the 25th Summit of EAC Heads of State in March 2026, marking a further step toward the region’s digital customs integration agenda.
The EAC Customs Bond is intended to provide a shared digital mechanism for customs guarantees across participating countries, supporting clearing and forwarding agents and other eligible users.
Stephen Teang, Managing Director of BSMART Technology Ltd, said the facility would support the company’s expansion plans.
“This facility provides important support for BSMART’s growth ambitions and reflects strong confidence in EACBond. We thank Afreximbank for their partnership and support.”
The guarantee forms part of Afreximbank’s broader efforts to support regional trade infrastructure and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, which seeks to reduce trade barriers and deepen economic integration across the continent.
