This report outlines the progress in implementation of TradeMark Africa and its partners for the fifth quarter of 2012/2013

The first quarter of 2012 saw continued good progress across the TradeMark Africa programme. One area of particular progress was in facilitating stronger linkages and exchange between TradeMark Africa and its partners, and between TradeMark Africa partners.

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...

In East Africa, collaboration between public and private sector actors is proving to be a powerful force in shaping inclusive economic development.While traditional Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are often associated with infrastructure financing, a quieter, more transformative form of collaboration is unfolding—one rooted in shared purpose, mutual benefit, and inclusive growth.As governments work to create enabling environments for trade and investment, the private sector brings innovation, agility, and deep market understanding. When these forces are aligned, they unlock opportunities neither could achieve alone. At TradeMark Africa (TMA), public-private collaboration is at the heart of our approach.We work with national and local governments, business associations, women’s groups, and regional institutions to co-create solutions that reduce trade barriers, promote inclusion, and drive sustainability. In Kenya, for instance, our collaboration with players in the horticulture sector resulted in the launch of the Sauti Trade and Market Information online platform.The platform has connected more than 1,000 Kenyan farmers and traders to export markets. It provides some 428 producers and traders with valuable market insights, helping them secure financing, improve their ability to meet market quality standards, and increase incomes.The Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX) online trading platform is a game-changer too. It helps Tanzanian farmers, traders, and exporters access domestic and global markets by ensuring fair commodity prices. The platform allows farmers to make informed decisions based on real-time and forecast price trends. In 2022, TMX expanded its online trading system to include cocoa and coffee. From July 2022 to June 2023, over 1 million kilograms...

At this year’s GTR East Africa 2025 Conference in Nairobi, I participated in a timely panel discussion under the theme “Trade Growth and Infrastructure Investment: East Africa’s Opportunity to Thrive in the New World Order.” The conversation could not have come at a more critical moment. The global economy is in transition. Long-standing trade assumptions are being redefined, and traditional rules of engagement are shifting. In 2023 alone, G20 nations introduced more than 1,160 new trade restrictions (Global Trade Alert, 2023).Climate-linked regulations are reshaping access to international markets. Official development assistance is declining, and multilateral climate finance remains uncertain. Tariff regimes are increasingly fragmented and politicised.These developments demand a fundamental rethinking of how Africa positions itself within the global economic order. For East Africa, this global reset presents not a threat, but a catalytic opportunity to reimagine trade. According to the UN Trade and Development, although the region contributes only two to three percent of global trade, it is disproportionately exposed to global shocks. From tariff changes to adverse climate impacts, East Africa faces significant vulnerabilities.However, these pressures are also prompting the region to pursue more resilient, agile, and self-determined trade systems.Africa must now move decisively. Business as usual is no longer tenable. Digitisation and automation have transformed global trade.Tightening regulations, shifting funding models, and climate imperatives have rendered sustainability and compliance essential. European Union regulations on labour standards, deforestation, and carbon emissions are compelling African producers to meet new thresholds or risk exclusion from essential global markets. These are...

Download the Publication Here  Over the past two decades, non-tariff barriers (NTBs) have emerged as the most persistent and complex challenge to international trade, with their prevalence steadily rising across the world. The East African Community (EAC) has not been immune to this trend, with NTBs continuing to evolve in form and scope, creating significant obstacles to the seamless flow of goods and services across the region. In 2021 alone, NTBs reported for the first time within the EAC accounted for over four percent of the total existing barriers, underscoring the enormity of the problem. In response to this, EAC Partner States have taken steps to address these trade impediments, including the enactment of the EAC Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers Act, 2017. This legislation provides a structured legal framework for monitoring and resolving NTBs, supported by tools such as the Time-Bound Programme for NTBs elimination and various directives, regulations, and recommendations issued by the EAC Council of Ministers. Despite these efforts, the region has faced a longstanding challenge in quantifying the actual impact of NTBs and, more importantly, the benefits of their removal. Without this data, it is difficult to prioritise interventions and allocate resources effectively. To address this gap, a recent study has developed a model designed to estimate the impact of NTBs within the EAC, with a specific focus on those arising along the Northern and Central transport corridors. The study reviewed existing techniques for measuring the impacts of NTBs, identified specific NTBs in the region responsive to...

The East African Community (EAC) is poised to reap substantial benefits from enhanced trade integration across the African continent, particularly through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). A recent study, titled “Export Trade Potential of the East African Community under the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) 2024,” indicates that the region's total export potential under the AfCFTA is estimated at approximately $1.9 billion, presenting a significant pathway for economic transformation. Leveraging the International Trade Centre (ITC)’s methodology, the research pinpoints high-potential export products within EAC member states. Kenya, Tanzania, and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) exhibit the most significant export potential, while South Africa, Egypt, and Zambia are identified as key African markets for EAC goods. Specific sectoral opportunities highlighted include tea from Kenya, processed cereals from Burundi, mineral products from Tanzania, and metals from the DRC. Beyond these specific product opportunities, the AfCFTA offers broader advantages encompassing improved market access, increased investments, industrial expansion, and strengthened regional cooperation. It is also expected to stimulate growth in crucial EAC sectors such as agriculture, pharmaceuticals, automotive, and logistics, while simultaneously accelerating digital trade and infrastructure development within the region. To fully realize this potential, the report recommends that EAC Member States prioritize investments in value addition to enhance product competitiveness, foster the development of industrial clusters, improve access to finance for businesses, and provide support for women traders to promote inclusive growth. Furthermore, the implementation of measures like export insurance schemes, duty remission programs, and advancements in digital...

  Group photo of the Djibouti delegation with MAGERWA staff Djibouti’s unique position at the crossroads of Africa, the Middle East, and global trade routes has made it a major hub for regional and international trade. As the main gateway for Ethiopia’s trade, the Djibouti-Ethiopia corridor handles about 95 percent of Ethiopia’s imports and exports. Despite its world-class port infrastructure, inefficiencies in trade facilitation, institutional coordination, and transport logistics continue to slow trade, leading to high costs, long transit times, and lost economic opportunities for businesses and traders that rely on the corridor. To address these challenges, Djibouti and Ethiopia are in the process of creating a Corridor Management Authority and a Transport Observatory. The Corridor Management Authority will support coordination of institutions, address trade bottlenecks, and improve the movement of goods. At the same time, the Transport Observatory will collect and analyze real-time trade data, enabling authorities to monitor performance, identify inefficiencies, and implement timely solutions. Together, these initiatives will lower trade costs, shorten transit times, and enhance the competitiveness of businesses operating along the corridor. To build an effective system, Djibouti is learning from successful trade corridor management models in East Africa. A technical team recently visited The Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority, the Port of Mombasa, Mariakani Weigh In Motion bridge under Kenya National Highways, Taveta OSBP in Kenya, the Central Corridor Transit and Transport Facilitation Agency and Holili OSBP in Tanzania, and the public bonded warehouse of Rwanda (MAGERWA) Rwanda. The delegation was able...