Uganda’s Minister of State for EAC Affairs, Rt. Hon. James Magode Ikuya with EAC SG, Hon. Veronica Nduva launching the EAC Bond The East African Community (EAC) has taken a major step towards streamlining regional trade with the launch of the EAC Customs Bond, a mechanism designed to reduce the cost of doing business and eliminate bottlenecks in cross-border cargo movement. The official launch took place in Kampala, Uganda, on 4 August 2025, and was officiated by Uganda’s Minister of State for EAC Affairs, Rt. Hon. James Magode Ikuya, who described the EAC Bond as “a home-grown solution tailored to our region’s realities—a symbol of trust, innovation and partnership.” Also present were EAC Secretary General Hon. Veronica Nduva, TradeMark Africa Deputy CEO Allen Asiimwe, and other officials from the public and private sectors, who hailed this as a milestone in tandem with the region’s pursuit of seamless trade transactions and improved competitiveness and integration. For years, businesses operating in the EAC have grappled with an assortment of national customs guarantee systems that required traders to issue a separate bond in each country of transit. This system not only increased the cost of trading across borders but also tied up critical capital in the form of repeated financial guarantees. It slowed down cargo clearance and undermined the region’s competitiveness. “This reform is about changing that. With the EAC bond, we are unlocking trade—saving time, releasing capital, and strengthening our industries’ competitiveness,” Hon. Ikuya, added. Until now, the region relied on the...

Annick Dusengimana (centre) and other participants during the graduation ceremony Kigali, Rwanda – On 27 June 2025, thirty-five young Rwandans were certified as private meat inspectors after completing an intensive six-month training programme. This initiative was specifically designed to enhance food safety standards and create valuable employment opportunities within Rwanda's expanding meat industry. Their certification signifies a substantial advance in Rwanda’s efforts to modernise its food systems, while simultaneously addressing youth unemployment by providing practical, market-oriented skills. The programme was delivered by TradeMark Africa through its Value-Added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE) programme, in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC), Mastercard Foundation, and the Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA). Doreca Musenga, the VIBE Programme Manager, stated, “This programme is about creating fulfilling jobs for young people and strengthening a vital link in the country’s food supply chain. We are counting on these graduates to apply the knowledge acquired in the training in ways that protect consumers, support businesses, and ultimately fuel economic growth.” Previously, meat inspection in Rwanda was primarily carried out by public health officers whose capacity was often stretched thin. The introduction of these newly trained and certified private inspectors will complement the existing system, transforming how hygiene standards are enforced throughout the meat value chain—from slaughterhouses to butcheries. These inspectors will perform a crucial frontline role, ensuring that meat products are clean, safe, and adhere to both national and international regulations. This is anticipated not only to bolster consumer confidence in locally produced...

Stakeholders pose for a group photo during the National Fisheries Stakeholders Consultative Workshop held in Kisumu, Kenya, on 26–27 June 2025 National Fisheries Stakeholders Workshop Deliberates on Policy Coordination, Gender Inclusion, and Trade Opportunities under the Fisheries Programme. Kenya's fisheries sector holds immense potential to drive inclusive economic growth and regional trade, but only if policies are harmonised, coordination is strengthened, and women and youth are fully empowered to participate meaningfully. This was the rallying call from stakeholders who gathered in Kisumu from 26 to 27 June 2025 for a national fisheries workshop intended to strengthen cross-border trade and unlock opportunities for women and youth in the sector. The two-day event was convened under the Women and Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries through Inclusive Market Access programme, a four-year initiative led by TradeMark Africa and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The initiative is being implemented in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Nigeria, across 11 border crossings, and in select island states in Africa. Kennedy Onyango, the County Executive Committee Member (County Minister) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries for Kisumu County, Kenya speaking at the Workshop. The programme seeks to dismantle structural barriers that prevent women and youth from fully participating in the fisheries value chain, thereby enhancing their potential for economic growth. Main objectives include the provision of training, strengthening of supply chain linkages, promotion of digital solutions, simplification of trade regulations, enforcement of standards, and...

By the time a crate of French beans meant for export leaves a farm in Kirinyaga County in Kenya, it has passed multiple sanitary and phytosanitary checks. The farmer has done everything required to meet the expectations of the destination market. But despite these efforts, unforeseen risks often come after the farm gate. Somewhere between the packhouse and the port, the cargo faces various risks including delays, disruption of the cold chain, inconsistent handling and ultimately, the produce arriving late, warm or spoiled. In a global market where shelf life is money and freshness is reputation, these risks carry serious consequences. This week, public and private sector actors came together to address one of the most pressing challenges in Kenya’s horticultural value chain. The convening was supported by our development partners: the European Union, the Netherlands and Denmark through the Business Environment and Export Enhancement Programme (BEEEP), and the British High Commission in Nairobi through the Regional Economic Development for Investment and Trade (REDIT) programme. It was facilitated by TradeMark Africa. The discussions focused on advancing the export of fresh produce by sea. To this end, stakeholders across Kenya’s horticultural export value chain negotiated a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that could transform how produce moves from farm to ship. The SLA is the first of its kind in scope focusing on export of horticultural produce, covering: Collection at the farm gate Packhouse processing Regulatory and customs clearances Road and rail transport to port Port gate-in, yard operations, and ship loading...

Kenya’s exports of fresh fruits and vegetables continue to face a host of trade barriers that undermine their competitiveness in major international markets, according to a new study. Commissioned as part of the European Union-funded Business Environment Enhancement and Export Promotion (BEEEP) Programme that is implemented by TradeMark Africa, the report identifies both tariff and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that persistently affect the country’s avocado, mango, and vegetable exports. The study, which covered the period from 2018 to 2022, evaluates the performance of 11 main export categories comprising avocados, mangoes, and nine types of vegetables, which are classified using the internationally recognised Harmonised System (HS) at the 6-digit level. This approach allowed researchers to trace product flows, map leading export destinations, and isolate specific market access challenges encountered by Kenyan producers and exporters. One of the major sticking points is the inconsistent application of tariffs, particularly Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates, across different markets. While countries with preferential trade agreements, such as the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, apply lower duties, others continue to impose standard MFN rates. These disparities increase the landed cost of Kenyan produce and erode its price advantage on the global stage. Beyond tariffs, the study highlights an array of NTBs that act as hidden obstacles to trade. These include stringent sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, varying labelling standards, and bureaucratic inefficiencies that delay shipments or deny market entry altogether. Such barriers, as defined by the World Trade Organization, are non-tariff measures that distort trade either by raising prices...

LONDON. 7 July 2025 — In a world racing toward regionalism, the Africa integration story often gets obscured by its own complexity. Yet last week in London, a compelling narrative emerged — one of deliberate transformation, driven not only by policy frameworks but by the quiet, technical work of institutions that understand trade from the ground up. TradeMark Africa’s (TMA) Board Chair and former Ethiopian Prime Minister, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn, led a high-level mission to the United Kingdom last week, carrying a message of urgency and opportunity. With TMA CEO Dave Beer, H.E. Desalegn’s engagements at the Africa Debate 2025, bilateral talks with UK ministers, and a landmark parliamentary roundtable at the Labour African Network made one point clear: for Africa to grow, it must grow together. “A landmark decision by African leaders was the establishment of the Africa Free Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” said Hailemariam during the opening panel at Africa Debate 2025. “The AfCFTA ushered alignment, but now we need to make the trade corridors work — not just for the movement of goods, but for the flow of value, investment, and opportunity across borders.” The event’s focus — unlocking regional value chains — is at the centre of Africa’s industrial and economic future. Alongside AfCFTA Secretary General Wamkele Mene, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa) Rt. Hon. Lord Collins of Highbury, and Nigerian Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment H.E. Jumoke Oduwole, Hailemariam spotlighted the region’s challenges and opportunities. Among them: fragmented policies, underutilised infrastructure, and...

Par Allen Asiimwe, Directeur général adjoint et Responsable des programmes, TradeMark Africa Lors de la conférence GTR Afrique de l'Est 2025 qui s'est tenue cette année à Nairobi, j'ai participé à une table ronde opportune sur le thème "Croissance du commerce et investissements dans les infrastructures : L'opportunité pour l'Afrique de l'Est de prospérer dans le nouvel ordre mondial". Cette conversation n'aurait pas pu avoir lieu à un moment plus critique. L'économie mondiale est en transition. Les hypothèses commerciales de longue date sont en train d'être redéfinies et les règles traditionnelles d'engagement sont en train de changer. Rien qu'en 2023, les pays du G20 ont introduit plus de 1 160 nouvelles restrictions commerciales (Global Trade Alert, 2023). Les réglementations liées au climat redessinent l'accès aux marchés internationaux. L'aide publique au développement diminue et le financement multilatéral de la lutte contre le changement climatique reste incertain. Les régimes tarifaires sont de plus en plus fragmentés et politisés. Ces évolutions exigent de repenser fondamentalement la manière dont l'Afrique se positionne dans l'ordre économique mondial. Pour l'Afrique de l'Est, cette remise à zéro mondiale n'est pas une menace, mais une opportunité catalytique de réimaginer le commerce. Selon les Nations unies pour le commerce et le développement, bien que la région ne contribue qu'à deux ou trois pour cent du commerce mondial, elle est exposée de manière disproportionnée aux chocs mondiaux. Des changements tarifaires aux impacts climatiques négatifs, l'Afrique de l'Est est confrontée à des vulnérabilités importantes. Toutefois, ces pressions incitent également la région...

Par Anataria Uwamariya En Afrique de l'Est, la collaboration entre les acteurs des secteurs public et privé s'avère être une force puissante pour façonner un développement économique inclusif. Alors que les partenariats public-privé (PPP) traditionnels sont souvent associés au financement des infrastructures, une forme de collaboration plus discrète et plus transformatrice est en train de se mettre en place, ancrée dans un objectif commun, un bénéfice mutuel et une croissance inclusive. Alors que les gouvernements s'efforcent de créer des environnements favorables au commerce et à l'investissement, le secteur privé apporte l'innovation, l'agilité et une connaissance approfondie du marché. Lorsque ces forces sont alignées, elles débloquent des opportunités qu'aucun des deux ne pourrait atteindre seul. À TradeMark Africa (TMA), la collaboration public-privé est au cœur de notre approche. La plateforme de commerce en ligne de la Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX) change également la donne. Elle aide les agriculteurs, les négociants et les exportateurs tanzaniens à accéder aux marchés nationaux et mondiaux en garantissant des prix équitables pour les produits de base. La plateforme permet aux agriculteurs de prendre des décisions éclairées sur la base des tendances des prix en temps réel et des prévisions. En 2022, TMX a étendu son système de négociation en ligne au cacao et au café. De juillet 2022 à juin 2023, plus d'un million de kilogrammes de cacao ont été échangés, rapportant aux agriculteurs environ 1,9 million de dollars (245 millions de shillings). Les prix du cacao ont augmenté de 34 % par rapport à l'année...

Le 19 juin 2025, lors de la 14e réunion ordinaire du Conseil des ministres inter-États de l'Agence de facilitation du transport en transit du corridor central, qui s'est tenue le 18 juin 2025 à Dar es Salaam, en Tanzanie, la Zambie a réaffirmé son engagement en faveur du développement et de l'intégration du transport régional. Conduite par le Ministre des Transports et de la Logistique, M. Museba Frank Tayali, la délégation zambienne a présenté les principales initiatives nationales alignées sur les objectifs plus larges du Corridor Central. Depuis qu'elle a rejoint le Corridor central, la Zambie a entrepris des efforts considérables pour moderniser ses systèmes de transport, considérant l'infrastructure comme la pierre angulaire de la croissance économique et de la connectivité régionale. Au cours de la réunion, le pays a fourni une mise à jour détaillée de l'état d'avancement de plusieurs projets stratégiques, y compris la collaboration avec le secrétariat du corridor pour finaliser un protocole d'accord sur l'échange de données entre l'autorité fiscale zambienne et le secrétariat. La Zambie a également fait des progrès dans le cadre du mécanisme de prestation de services AUDA-NEPAD pour la préparation précoce de projets concernant le port de Mpulungu. Cela comprend des évaluations techniques et de marché pour le mouvement des marchandises entre la Zambie, la République démocratique du Congo (RDC) et d'autres pays bordant le lac Tanganyika. Des plans sont en cours pour mettre à jour l'aménagement du port et fournir des recommandations pour une transformation portuaire verte, ainsi que des évaluations...

At the 14th Ordinary Meeting of the Inter-State Council of Ministers for the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency, held on 18 June 2025 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, Zambia reaffirmed its commitment to regional transport development and integration. Led by Minister of Transport and Logistics, Hon. Museba Frank Tayali, the Zambian delegation outlined key national initiatives aligned with the broader goals of the Central Corridor. Since joining the Central Corridor, Zambia has undertaken extensive efforts to modernise its transport systems, viewing infrastructure as a cornerstone for economic growth and regional connectivity. During the meeting, the country provided a detailed progress update on several strategic projects, including collaboration with the Corridor Secretariat to finalise a Data Exchange Memorandum of Understanding between the Zambia Revenue Authority and the Secretariat. Zambia has also made strides under the AUDA-NEPAD Service Delivery Mechanism for early project preparation concerning Mpulungu Port. This includes technical and market assessments for cargo movement between Zambia, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and other countries bordering Lake Tanganyika. Plans are in motion to update the harbour layout and provide recommendations for a green port transformation, alongside safety evaluations for navigation on the lake. Border infrastructure improvements remain a high priority. The Nakonde/Tunduma One Stop Border Post is undergoing significant upgrades. The first phase, supported by TradeMark Africa, is over 70% complete, focusing on a truck scanner, access roads, and ICT equipment. The second phase, Lot 2, funded through the World Bank’s TRACER Project, is in the procurement stage and...