Three Rwandan small and medium-sized fresh produce companies recently showcased their products at the 2025 Fruit Logistica Expo in Berlin, Germany, making strides towards unlocking new opportunities in the export market. The exhibition, held from February 5–7, is one of the world’s largest trade fairs for the fresh produce industry. This year’s gathering brought together an estimated 66,000 visitors and 2,700 exhibitors from 145 countries, offering Kinvest Farms Company, Lotec Rwanda Ltd, and Effective M&N a global platform to promote their products, businesses, and prospect for new customers for their niche horticultural produce. Their participation was part of the five-year Value-added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE) programme that is implemented in Rwanda by TradeMark Africa (TMA), the International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with Mastercard Foundation. “Occasions such as this expo avail valuable opportunities for Rwanda’s fresh produce exporters to explore new markets, enhance their earning potential, and improve the prospects for other local enterprises to expand into European and global markets. By engaging directly with international stakeholders, these firms gained critical insights into market dynamics and established connections with potential buyers and strategic partners,” said Doreca Musenga, VIBE Programme at TradeMark Africa. The three companies, who are part of the many VIBE programme participants, collectively produce and export a variety of fresh produce, including French beans, passion fruits, chilies, snow peas, bird’s eye chilies, bananas, green chilies, habanero, and avocados. Despite their exponential potential, these firms, like many other micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), face several challenges in...

The recent commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the East African Community (EAC) offered an excellent opportunity to reflect on its achievements, confront persistent challenges, and outline the path forward for advancing regional integration. A notable focus of the celebration was the role of digital innovation in addressing cross-border payment inefficiencies, with technologies such as artificial intelligence, mobile money, and digital currencies emerging as critical enablers. Coinciding with this milestone, the Africa Trade Development Forum (ATDF) was held in Kigali, Rwanda, from 2 to 3 December 2024. Co- organised by the Government of Rwanda and TradeMark Africa (TMA), the forum brought global trade leaders, policy makers, private sector representatives, researchers, and innovators to reimagine the transformative potential of digital solutions in redefining trade. Both events emphasised the need for actionable strategies to strengthen intra-regional trade through enhanced collaboration. Regional cooperation emerged as a key driver of economic growth, with the EAC commended for its leadership in promoting intra-African trade. Since 2010, TMA has worked to reduce trade barriers and modernise trade systems within the EAC. Its collaboration with the EAC has delivered 15 One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs), reducing transit times by 16.5% along the Northern Corridor from Mombasa to Bujumbura and cutting crossing times by up to 70% at key border points. These improvements have significantly enhanced regional connectivity and efficiency. Digital transformation has been central to TMA’s approach, with initiatives such as the Single Customs Territory introducing electronic cargo tracking system, digital certificates of origin, and customs modernisation. The...

Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition, and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), in partnership with TradeMark Africa and the International Trade Centre (ITC), has concluded a four-day training for horticultural producers under the Value-added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE). This marks a significant step toward enhancing the capacity of Rwandan horticultural producers to access global markets. The training, held from November 18–21, 2024, brought together 30 small and medium- sized horticultural enterprises from across the fruit and vegetable value chains, including producers, farmer cooperatives, exporters, and the Rwanda Horticulture Exporters Association.   The training focused on Good Agricultural Practices (GAPs), with particular emphasis on pesticide use and compliance with Maximum Residue Levels (MRLs). Participants gained practical insights into pesticide application, pest management, record-keeping, and the implications of non-compliance with specified standards. Such violations can significantly impact international market access and pose public health risks. To reinforce and sustain best practices, the enterprises will receive an additional month of post-training coaching to ensure alignment with global standards in pest and disease control. These engagements align with VIBE’s overarching goals of enhancing access to lucrative export markets for Rwanda’s horticultural products, reducing rejection rates, increasing sales, and creating decent and fulfilling jobs. The five-year program, implemented in Rwanda by TradeMark Africa and the International Trade Center (ITC) in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, is designed to facilitate the creation of dignified job opportunities, particularly for women, youth, refugees, and persons with disabilities in micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) within the horticulture, poultry, meat, and dairy value...

L'industrie kenyane de la mangue a subi d'importants revers en raison de l'invasion de la mouche des fruits (Bactrocera dorsalis), qui a conduit à de nombreuses interceptions de cargaisons de mangues par l'Union européenne (UE). Pour relever ce défi et préserver les possibilités d'exportation du pays, des traitements post-récolte innovants tels que l'utilisation de la technique de traitement à l'eau chaude (HWT) sont à l'étude. Avec le soutien du programme de renforcement de l'environnement des entreprises et des exportations (EU-BEEEP) financé par l'UE, une délégation de TradeMark Africa (TMA) a récemment visité la Direction des cultures horticoles (HCD) à l'aéroport international Jomo Kenyatta (JKIA) de Nairobi pour évaluer la faisabilité de l'installation d'un équipement de traitement à l'eau chaude. Plus tard, l'équipe a eu l'occasion d'observer un prototype de l'équipement au Centre international de physiologie et d'écologie des insectes (icipe), une institution de recherche scientifique réputée pour ses technologies et pratiques innovantes en matière de lutte contre les ravageurs. Le traitement des eaux usées est une méthode éprouvée pour éliminer les parasites de quarantaine tels que les mouches des fruits, tout en préservant la qualité et la durée de conservation des mangues. En investissant dans les technologies de traitement des eaux usées, les exportateurs kenyans seront mieux préparés à répondre aux normes phytosanitaires strictes exigées par les principaux marchés tels que l'Union européenne, les États-Unis et le Japon. Cet investissement permettra non seulement aux exportateurs d'éviter des rejets coûteux aux frontières, mais aussi d'améliorer leur compétitivité sur le marché mondial....

Le programme national de TradeMark Africa (TMA) en Côte d'Ivoire a tenu sa réunion inaugurale du Comité national de Surveillance (CNS) le 20 septembre 2024, suite à la récente signature d'un protocole d'accord avec le ministère du Commerce. Le CNS fait partie de la structure de gouvernance de TMA et est présidé par un haut fonctionnaire d'un ministère. Il est chargé de fournir des conseils stratégiques sur la programmation qui répond aux objectifs nationaux, d'examiner les propositions de projets et les plans d'affaires liés aux programmes qu'il supervise et peut recommander au conseil d'administration de les approuver. Le comité examine également les progrès de la mise en œuvre et résout les problèmes. Ses membres comprennent des représentants des ministères et départements gouvernementaux concernés, des organes faîtiers du secteur privé, des organisations de la société civile et des partenaires du développement. Au cours de la réunion, les participants ont noté que le lancement de la programmation de TMA en Côte d'Ivoire était opportun et essentiel pour faire progresser la facilitation du commerce dans le pays et dans toute l'Afrique de l'Ouest. La séance d'ouverture de la série de rencontres de la journée, y compris la réunion du CNS, a été présidée par Patrick Olivier Daipo, chef de cabinet adjoint, qui représentait le ministre ivoirien du commerce et de l'industrie, Souleymane Diarrassouba. La réunion du CNS était présidée par Kalilou Sylla, directeur général du commerce extérieur au ministère. "Ce Comité National de Surveillance jouera un rôle essentiel dans le suivi et la...

TradeMark Africa (TMA)'s Côte d’Ivoire Country Programme held its inaugural National Oversight Committee (NOC) meeting on September 20, 2024, following the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Trade. The NOC is part of TMA’s governance structure and is chaired by a high-level official within a Government Ministry. It is mandated to provide strategic advice on programming that is responsive to national objectives, review project proposals and business plans related to the programmes they are overseeing and may recommend that the Board approves them. The committee also reviews implementation progress and resolves challenges. Its members include representatives from relevant government ministries and departments, private sector apex bodies, civil society organisations and development partners. During the meeting, participants noted that the launch of TMA’s programming in Côte d’Ivoire was timely and critical for advancing trade facilitation in the country and across West Africa. The opening session of the series of the engagements of the day, including the NOC meeting, was presided over by Patrick Olivier Daipo, Deputy Chief of Staff, representing Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Souleymane Diarrassouba. The NOC meeting was chaired by Kalilou Sylla, Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry. “This National Oversight Committee will play a vital role in monitoring and coordinating various trade facilitation activities in Côte d’Ivoire to ensure the desired results of the interventions are achieved,” Mr Sylla noted. “Stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, agreed to design and implement...

Kenya’s mango industry has faced significant setbacks due to the invasive fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), which has led to numerous interceptions of mango shipments by the European Union (EU). To address this challenge and safeguard the country’s export opportunities, innovative post-harvest treatments such as the utilisation of hot water treatment (HWT) technique are being explored. A delegation from TradeMark Africa (TMA) recently visited the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi to assess the feasibility of installing HWT equipment. Later, the team had an opportunity to observe a prototype of the equipment at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), a renowned scientific research institution for innovative pest management technologies and practices. HWT is a proven method for eliminating quarantine pests such as fruit flies, while preserving the quality and shelf life of mangoes. By investing in HWT technologies, Kenyan exporters will be better prepared to meet the stringent phytosanitary standards required by major markets such as the European Union, United States, and Japan. This HWT will not only help exporters avoid costly rejections at borders but also improve their competitiveness in the global market. Moreover, it will have a positive ripple effect on smallholder farmers, boosting their incomes and livelihoods through increased export opportunities. As Kenya continues to explore new avenues to expand its agricultural exports, HWT presents a viable and sustainable solution for the mango industry.

The East African Community (EAC) is set to launch a regional bond to enhance trade facilitation in the region and provide a cheaper and more efficient solution for the business community. This was revealed during a meeting between the EAC Secretariat and stakeholders to discuss the procedures and benefits of the regional bond in comparison to the COMESA Regional Customs Transit Guarantee (RCTG) and to get feedback from the stakeholders. Kagriel Kino, a representative from the Secretariat said the regional bond will serve as a substitute for the member nations and not a replacement for the COMESA RCTG bond which is currently being used. “We became aware of the shortcomings of the COMESA RCTG bond and have developed a cheaper and more efficient solution for the business community in order to guarantee that bond issuers in each of the EAC partner states have access to a larger pool of liquidity in a single market,” he noted. The EAC regional bond intends to reduce the costs of bonds, guarantees, and collaterals charged by sureties, as well as the costs of bonds and guarantees charged by insurance and customs clearing agents. This is in addition to the reduction of delays at border posts, the simplification of the clearing process, the provision of business opportunities to all citizens of member states, and the minimization of revenue leakages. The system will also be interfaced with the National Customs System to provide a timely update on transit entry declarations. In his remarks, Abel Kagumire, Commissioner of...

East African Community (EAC) Secretary-General Peter Mathuki says Somalia could be admitted to the bloc this month. An Ordinary Heads of State Summit is scheduled for November 23-24 in Arusha, and the region’s presidents are expected to endorse Somalia’s accession. Dr Mathuki told a panel at the Africa Investment Forum in Marrakech, Morocco, on November 9 that the bloc is looking to expand to the entire Horn of Africa, with Ethiopia having expressed interest in joining it after Mogadishu. “The East African Community is one of the building blocks of the African Union and it’s fast growing. We have DR Congo as the latest member, plus Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda. That is a market of around 300 million people. And this November, we are likely to admit Somalia into the Community. The coastline of the East African Community will stretch almost 500,000 kilometres. And we look forward to more expansion; we are looking at Ethiopia, which has shown interest in joining the Community. So, at the end of the day, we are looking at a market of close to 700 million people,” he said. The panel comprising leaders of African economic blocs, EAC, Comesa, Southern African Development Community and Ecowas, was discussing the quest to integrate Africa. Dr Mathuki said the EAC is people-centred and emphasised the role of the private sector in driving intra-regional trade and integration. He said intra-EAC trade had grown twofold in the past decade, from less than 10 percent to...

Africa is the most food insecure continent in the world despite its huge agricultural potential. In 2021, about a fifth of the continent’s population faced hunger. Furthermore, AU’s Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Biennial Review report (2019-2021) reveals that the continent is not on track to meet its goal of ending hunger by 2025. With its ballooning population, which is expected to constitute 25% of the world population by 2050, Africa’s food demand is expected to soar by 60% in 2030 compared to 2015 according to a World Bank report. Factors accounting food insecurity on the continent are diverse and multifaceted. As a region, it is the worst affected by long term shifts in temperature and weather patterns caused by climate change and global warming. Climate change continues to have a catastrophic impact on agriculture; the backbone of the continent’s economy. Recent external factors that led to food supply chain disruptions and, consequently grave food security challenges for the continent, have created an imperative for intra-African trade to meet its current and future food security objectives. The COVID-19 pandemic had a severe impact on food prices and by extension food security. This has all been aggravated by the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war that disrupted the supply of key commodities such as wheat and fertilizer; a critical agro input. Indeed, sharp price increases of bread, a staple food in many African countries triggered unrest as witnessed in instances such as Sudan. All these factors have exposed the fragilities of Africa’s food...