NCBIP awareness forums in the Member States

Northern Corridor Secretariat rolls out the Business Information Portal (NCBIP) in Member States

Access to timely, accurate, and relevant information is essential for the success of modern organizations. However, the challenge lies in ensuring that this information is delivered at the right time, in the right format, and to the right audience.

In today’s data-driven world, information systems play a critical role in the efficient execution of daily business operations. They empower organizations to make swift, well-informed decisions, identify new market opportunities, improve customer service, and foster innovation. As such, information systems are indispensable tools for growth and competitiveness.

To support regional economic integration and trade, the Northern Corridor Secretariat has developed the Northern Corridor Business Information Portal (NCBIP)—an online platform designed to manage and disseminate key data on trade and investment within the region. Through continuous data collection, processing, and publishing, the portal provides valuable insights on:

• The economic landscape in the Member States;
• Policy frameworks that promote trade and investment;
• Cross-border trade facilitation measures and regulations;
• Business opportunities, especially those related to SMEs, products, and services in the region.

The NCBIP is intended to serve a broad range of stakeholders, including:

• Companies of all sizes from both public and private sectors
• Private sector umbrella organizations
• Investors
• Development partners
• Government institutions
• Researchers and individuals interested in business data from Northern Corridor Member States

Following the development of the platform, the Secretariat has entered the rollout phase, aimed at raising awareness and building capacity for the effective use of the NCBIP across Member States.

As part of this phase, the Secretariat conducted a training session for NCBIP focal points from private sector umbrella organizations. In addition, enumerators have been identified. They will be equipped with smartphones pre-installed with the NCBIP mobile application, enabling them to collect data—such as agricultural commodity prices—from border markets.

The Secretariat recently concluded the first phase of its awareness forums in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Uganda, and South Sudan. These sessions led to the registration of approximately 30 companies on the portal, the collection of data on local business environments, and the training of private sector representatives on how to validate and manage company profiles within the system.

Looking ahead, the second phase of the NCBIP awareness forums is scheduled for the first quarter of the next financial year (beginning July) and will cover the remaining Member States: Burundi, Kenya, and Rwanda. This next phase is guided by the NCBIP’s comprehensive three-year strategic plan, which outlines the portal’s implementation and growth across the region.

The Northern Corridor Secretariat remains committed to promoting regional trade and investment through data-driven solutions and inclusive stakeholder engagement.