Business & Industry Advisory Services

The East African region, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, Uganda and Southern Sudan, is one of the fastest growing regions globally, with annual GDP rates of over 6%. It is also the most integrated economic blocs in Africa, with a functioning Customs Union and Common Market, among other facilitative measurers. The market is also supported by existing trade preferences across the COMESA, SADC, AGOA and EU markets. The region has in recent years also been enjoying marked improvements in the operating environment for business, as evidenced by the improving performance under key indices such as the World Bank Doing Business index. The result is a region now recognized as one of the emerging markets globally, with strong and growing opportunities for both trade and investment.

To tap into these trade and investment opportunities, companies, both local and international, are however confronted with challenges of different and /or varying institutions and regulations; unfamiliarity with the region in general but especially at sector level; lack of credible contacts with whom to partner with, loads of information from the internet, which is often contradictory and not tailored to individual needs and other unique hurdles that attend to every new market.

With our extensive experience working across the region, our in-depth knowledge of all sectors and unrivalled network of contacts, ATEAS is uniquely positioned to assist companies, both local and international, to navigate the EAC market, through a range of tailored services that ensure you understand the market, reduce your risk exposure and partner with the right companies and persons to ensure that you succeed and grow your business in the new market.

Targeting mainly growth oriented large, medium and small enterprises, our range of services include the following:

1. Tailored Market Analysis and Information Service

Targeting international companies interested in investing and or trading with one or all EAC market, our Tailored Market Analysis and Information Service responds to individual company needs with regard to various aspects of the EAC Market. Based on your interest, our analysis may include any or all of the following aspects:

• Assessment of legal and regulatory entry requirements, including but not limited to tax laws, labour regulations, standards registration, licenses, procurement laws, intellectual property registration and rights’ protection and access to factors such as land, among others.
• Data backed analysis of market size, its growth trends and future forecast, as well as market segmentation
• Analysis of the competitive environment, the key players, their market share and strategies
• Existing distribution channels
• Potential market entry strategies, including proposed roadmap for entry based on prevailing conditions
• Risk assessment, including at the political and operating level, as well as proposed mitigation strategies

2. In-Market Facilitation Service

Our In-Market facilitation Service is for companies that intend to take forward the tailored market analysis by visiting the market and / or investing in the market. As part of this service, we offer the following range of services:

• A Programme Arranging Service (PAS), that is comprehensive and tailored to your individual needs. As part of the PAS, we provide a list of ‘warmed up’ contacts, both public and private, complemented with a confirmed program of visits for the duration of your visit. The service also includes arranging of a vehicle to take you to each of the meetings.
• Initial briefing – when you arrive in market, we hold a briefing meeting with you, to provide you with background information on your meetings, couch you on the cultural practices in the region / country; as well as answer any questions you may have.
• Organisation of networking events: we organise events such as seminars, receptions and workshop if desired. Our support including booking the venue for the event, inviting key sector players and ensuring their participation and supporting you in running the event as you may require.
• Operations start-up for investors: we assist in the registration of your company in the market and meeting all other legal requirements; registration of patents and copyrights where needed, identification of suitable locations, assistance in recruitment of initial staff and acquisition of work permits for expatriate staff if needed.
• Undertaking potential due-diligence: If you are entering into joint ventures or partnership of any kind, we undertake commercial due-diligence of targeted partners.
• We of course offer any other support that you may require to make your visit and entry into this market a success.

3. EAC Market Place

The EAC Market Place is a sector specific information product targeting, which is NOT tailored to any individual business, but which is detailed and comprehensive enough to be of value to any sector player. Targeting mainly EAC businesses, especially MSMEs and trade associations, the information, availed in the form a sector in market guide, includes the following information:

• Data backed sector characteristics such as market size, competition, growth trends and prospects
• Key trade and investment opportunities in the sector
• Sector legal, regulatory and operating environment
• Sector entry strategies
• Main players in the sector

For more on the EAC Market Place product, read here

4. EAC Exporter Development Service

Targeting EAC companies seeking entry into international markets, such as the China, Brazil, India, UAE, the EU, USA and Australia, ATEAS provides a comprehensive range of customised knowledge and services to help exporters expand to and win business in international markets and ultimately develop export competency. Our services include:

• Development of your Export Marketing Plan: as part of this service, we undertake an export audit of your company to assess your readiness to export; export market targeting based on trade flow analysis, supply chain analysis, market entry strategies; export market requirements, including product design, SPS measures where applicable
• Support to secure overseas markets: – we assist your company to identify and warming up overseas buyers. Our support also includes linking you with potential suppliers to ensure a steady supply of products to sustain the overseas markets.
• Exporter Capacity Building: ATEAS provides short 2-3 days training courses for exporters on various export planning aspects.
• Overseas Market Guides: – ATEAS will from 2019 publish market specific guides, which will analyse export opportunities in selected international markets and how to tap into them.

Contact us now with your request and we shall provide more details on our menu of services and related fees.