Feasibility Study on the Establishment of an Online Portal for Trading in Freight Services (e-freightex) in East Africa

Feasibility Study on the Establishment of an Online Portal for Trading in Freight Services (e-freightex) in East Africa

This book brings together a collection of papers that look at the nature and impact of barriers to trade within Africa. The varied contributions draw attention to a wide range of constraints, distortions and abuses, and unveil the complexity of the reform agenda that is necessary to address them. The chapters have been written in a non-technical language, with the explicit intention of promoting dialogue about integration amongst policy makers, regulators, entrepreneurs, consumers, academia, and the broad international development community. Behind each chapter lie more detailed technical reports that are available on the trade website of the World Bank’s Africa Region.

Nairobi, 8 February: The Government of the Netherlands, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a significant boost to global trade development, has announced a $63 million funding to TradeMark Africa, a leading aid-for-trade organisation. This strategic investment will fuel TradeMark Africa's Strategy 3, covering the period till 2030, aimed at driving green, sustainable economic growth, fostering innovative trade practices, and promoting inclusive trade across Africa. This move underscores the Netherlands' commitment to enhancing economic opportunities, job creation and facilitating sustainable trade throughout the continent. Marchel Gerrmann, Ambassador for Business and Development Cooperation at Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “TradeMark Africa will significantly contribute to a more inclusive and prosperous trade landscape for the African continent, benefitting both African and Dutch businesses." The Netherlands’ contribution will be invested in strengthening trade systems so that they benefit local exporters, foster economic growth, and create sustainable livelihoods across diverse sectors. This investment will be instrumental in improving market access for local products at the global level, in addition to bolstering initiatives that drive innovation, research, and development within the African market, enhancing competitiveness and green trading practices. As part of its Africa Strategy, the Netherlands contributes towards the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA is expected to boost intra-African trade over 30% by 2045 and is projected to provide an average extra 2.7% GDP boost across the continent. The AfCFTA could lift 30 million Africans out of poverty by 2035, offering market opportunities to both African...