Local manufacturers led by Kenya Association of Manufacturers recently went on a trade mission to Tanzania, following the meeting between H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta and H.E. Samia Suluhu two months ago. The mission organized in partnership with the Confederation of Tanzania Industries yielded promise, hope and a positive turning point for the two countries. One thing stood out; trade relations between the two countries can flourish given sustained political goodwill and mutual understanding between businesses. Whilst Kenya and Tanzania have for years shared strong trade relations, non-tariff barriers, high cost of production and cheap imports from outside the East Africa Community (EAC) region have impacted trade between the two countries. Statistics indicate that Kenya’s exports to Tanzania declined from USD 343.6 million in 2015 to USD 329.5 million in 2019, whilst imports from Tanzania increased from USD 172.6 million in 2015 to USD 269.7 million in 2019. On the other hand, Tanzania’s exports to Kenya grew from USD 126.2 million in 2016 to USD 258.2 million in 2020, while her exports to the world grew from USD 4.4 billion in 2016 to USD 5.2 billion in 2020. Looking at the nominal values of our trade statistics, there is plenty of room for improvement in the total volume of trade between the two countries. The conversations held in Dar es Salaam proved pivotal for both business communities. The warm reception and progressive deliberations were an indication that we have a common goal for prosperity in mind. In fact, the talks widened to...

A new worldwide wave of Covid-19. Natural disasters in China and Germany. A cyber-attack targeting key South African ports. Events have conspired to drive global supply chains towards breaking point, threatening the fragile flow of raw materials, parts and consumer goods, according to companies, economists and shipping specialists. The Delta variant of the coronavirus has devastated parts of Asia and prompted many nations to cut off land access for sailors. That has left captains unable to rotate weary crews and about 100,000 seafarers stranded at sea beyond their stints in a flashback to 2020 and the height of lockdowns. "We're no longer on the cusp of a second crew change crisis, we're in one," Guy Platten, secretary general of the International Chamber of Shipping, told Reuters. "This is a perilous moment for global supply chains." Given ships transport around 90 per cent of the world's trade, the crew crisis is disrupting the supply of everything from oil and iron ore to food and electronics. German container line Hapag Lloyd described the situation as "extremely challenging". "Vessel capacity is very tight, empty containers are scarce and the operational situation at certain ports and terminals is not really improving," it said. "We expect this to last probably into the fourth quarter – but it is very difficult to predict." Meanwhile, deadly floods in economic giants China and Germany have further ruptured global supply lines that had yet to recover from the first wave of the pandemic, compromising trillions of dollars of economic activity...

13 July 2021, JUBA—National consultations and an online survey have been launched by stakeholders in South Sudan to provide a platform for women in trade and business to voice their needs and interests with regards to participation in regional and continental trade, to inform the proposed Protocol on Women in Trade of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The online survey was launched by the UN Women Regional Offices of West and Central Africa, East and Southern Africa and the Arab States, in partnership with UNDP and the AfCFTA Secretariat. “South Sudanese women entrepreneurs face similar challenges to women in other locations, and our goal is to fully integrate the Women in Trade Protocol into the AfCFTA agreement. Consultations are an important element in making the development of the Women in Trade Protocol participatory, inclusive, and responsive to the needs and priorities of the women of South Sudan,” said Minister of Gender, Child and Social Welfare Hon. Ayaa Benjamin Warille, during opening remarks at the launch of the national consultations at Dembesh Hotel in Juba on Tuesday. “We know that if a woman is doing business, she will be doing it for the benefit of her family, the benefit of her community and the benefit of society,” said Hon. Agak Achuil Lual, Undersecretary of Trade for the Ministry of Trade and Industry, adding encouragement: “Although there will be challenges and people may discourage you, work with your sisters and colleagues in the 10 states, and share your ideas [on...

The African Development Bank Group (www.AfDB.org) and the Government of Ethiopia have signed two separate grant agreements for new projects to boost youth employment and electricity trade between Ethiopia and Djibouti. The grants fall under the Bank Group’s concessional lending window, the African Development Fund, and will go towards the Productivity Enhancement to Support Agro Industrial Parks and Youth Employment Project worth $47 million, and the $71 million Ethiopia-Djibouti Second Power Interconnection Project, which aims to boost electricity trade between Ethiopia and neighbouring Djibouti. The industrial parks and youth project will see the development of irrigation and water management infrastructure around the Integrated Agro-Industrial Parks, offering opportunities for graduate “agri-preneurs” to establish agro-related, commercially viable businesses. The $102 million venture is being co-financed with the Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA), with a $5.25 million contribution by the Ethiopian government. Under the scheme, 12,607 ha of irrigated land would be developed and about 3,000 youths will receive both agronomic/agriculture and business development training. Bank financing is expected to cover 4,607 ha and BADEA financing another 8,000 ha. The irrigation infrastructure will strengthen water users’ associations; protect the water-shed areas around the irrigation schemes; go towards training farmers and youth agri-preneurs on soil and water conservation practices, agricultural production, value addition and marketing; and support established youth SMEs to access credit. The project will be implemented over a five-year period (2021-2026) under the supervision of the Ministry of Water, Irrigation and Energy and the country’s Irrigation Development Commission. The...

Summary Kakooza was first confirmed for the position on July 17, 2021 by the NRM Parliamentary Caucus at Kololo Independence grounds after beating other contestants in the party primaries race with 93 votes followed by the former State Minister for Tourism, Godfrey Kiwanda who garnered 85 votes. Former Kabula County MP, James Kakooza has been elected to represent Uganda in the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA). On Monday, 183 MPs voted in favour of Kakooza’s representation. The eleventh Parliament has a total of 529 MPs. Deputy Speaker Anita Among declared Kakooza as successful elected EALA member. Kakooza now replaces the former representative of Uganda, Mathias Kasamba who succumbed to Covid-19 on April 27, 2021. He now joins the other representatives elected to EALA by Uganda on 28th February 2017. These include Rose Akol Okullo (NRM), PauI Musamali (NRM), George Odongo (NRM), Mary Mugyenyi (NRM), Dennis Namara (NRM), Chris Opoka (UPC), Fred Mukasa Mbidde (DP) and Susan Nakawuki (Independent). Kakooza of the NRM party was the only successfully nominated person for the position according to a report by the Verification Committee of the nominees and applicants for the by-election to the EALA Uganda Chapter. The report was presented to Parliament by the Committee Chairperson Fox Odoi Oywelowo, the MP for West Budama North-East constituency. Kakooza was first confirmed for the position on July 17, 2021 by the NRM Parliamentary Caucus at Kololo Independence grounds after beating other contestants in the party primaries race with 93 votes followed by the former State...

In Summary EABC Chairman Nicholas Nesbitt noted that the EAC bloc should work to attract international investors and embark on joint regional investments. The EAC Gross Domestic Product growth is projected at 3.5 per cent in 2021 and 4.7 per cent in 2022 according to the Africa Development Bank. The East African Business Council(EABC) is calling for a coordinated approach on Covid-19 measures to spur economic recovery and growth in the East Africa region. EABC Chairman Nicholas Nesbitt noted that the EAC bloc should work to attract international investors and embark on joint regional investments in the vaccine manufacturing industry for quick economic recovery. Nesbitt said that joint EAC investment offers a larger pool of capital resources, expertise and market. Low access to vaccines, slow vaccine roll-out and potentially high cost of vaccinations risk holding back the recovery of EAC economies. The EAC Gross Domestic Product growth is projected at 3.5 per cent in 2021 and 4.7 per cent in 2022 according to the Africa Development Bank. The Board directed the EABC Secretariat to champion advocacy on the adoption of open skies and One Network Area to reduce the cost of doing business in the region. Open Skies attract regional tourism and improve consolidation of EAC exports to overseas markets such as horticulture. This is critical to support the resilience and recovery of tourism, hospitality and transport sectors highly impacted by the pandemic. EAC Partner States lost an estimate of $4.2billion of international tourism receipts in the year 2020. EABC...

The Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) plans to make Uganda’s export competitive. Dissecting the topic ‘Understanding Customs In Uganda’s Economic Development’ Friday morning, URA Commissioner for Customs, Abel Kagumire said a number of strategies have been put in place to the country’s exports competitive. Figures from the Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Development show that Uganda earned US$ 455.22 (Shs 1.620 trillion) in exports in the month of May 2021. Kagumire says Gender based trade facilitation is one area the tax man will concentrate on. He says statistics show that women are involved in cross-border trade. To support their endeavour, Kagumire says the women in cross-border trade will be allocated storage spaces at one stop border posts for storage of their goods, train them in trade, and strengthen clearance at bus terminals, airports and couriers. Secondly, Kagumire says by the end of the 2021/22 Financial Year, URA hopes to have increased the number of one-stop border posts from the current 5 to 9. Some of the posts either under construction or in operation include; Malaba, Katuna, Mpondwe, Ggoli, Elegu and Mirama among others. Increase in electronic monitoring of cargo is another area URA will give attention to. This, Kagumire says, helps in cargo tracking to avoid diversion. Already, the cargo tracking system extends to DR Congo. But Kagumire says talks are underway with South Sudan to have the system extended there. This is also expected to promote exports and reduce smuggling. Bonded warehouse information system has also been developed. According...

25 July 2021 Busia Kenya: TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the County Government of Busia have this morning launched construction of a Ksh. 37.5 million Safe Trade Zone at Soko Posta Grounds which were provided by the County Government of Busia. The project is part of TMA’s wider response to the Covid-19 pandemic that has adversely affected cross border traders in the country. Many traders have had their businesses interrupted, due to mandatory restrictions placed by the Government of Kenya to curb congestion and the spread of the virus. The Safe Trade Market It will minimize disruptions to especially women traders at borders who have been forced to shut down their operations in line with various Covid-19 protocols hence disrupting their once thriving livelihoods. The project was launched by Principal Secretary in the State Department of East African Community Dr. Kevit Desai and Busia County Governor, H.E. Sospeter Ojaamong. Speaking during the launch Dr. Desai noted the State Department is committed to raise trade in the region from the current 15% to 60%. “Cross border traders are key to the region attaining the desired levels of inter-regional trade. As a government we are committed to build capacity of cross border traders and facilitate them more. I thank TradeMark E.A and the donors, the EU, Canada and Ireland for the Safe Trade Zones project that is greatly supporting this agenda.” said Desai. The Busia Safe Trade Zone Market will be constructed and manged in strict compliance of health protocols to ensure trade...

TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ireland have today launched a €100,000 (approx. USD 118,000) project that contributes to increasing the number of women participating in trade within the agricultural sector in Kenya through eliminating the barriers of entry to trade for women and building the capacity of female producers, aggregators, cross-border traders and women-owned or women-led MSMEs / SMEs. The project will leverage and strengthen on the interventions of the Women in Trade (WIT) project targeting a total of 7,000 female producers, aggregators, cross-border traders and a minimum of 35 women-owned or women-led SMEs / MSMEs within the agricultural sector. Further, the selected value chains, including avocado, mango, cassava, groundnuts, soybean and maize have been identified as having the potential to provide economic opportunities for women along the value chain. In Kenya, agriculture makes up a large proportion of Kenya’s economy, and subsequently, Kenya’s economic opportunities. Importantly, Kenya’s established market institutions and supporting social infrastructures, suggest that agricultural trade has the potential to provide sustainable, scalable, and meaningful impact to women’s economic empowerment in Kenya. Speaking during the launch, Jill Clements, Deputy Head of Mission and Head of Cooperation welcomes the continued partnership with TradeMark Africa focusing on women in trade as part of Ireland’s commitment to gender equality. The project has 4 keys output areas; strengthening access to agri-markets for female aggregators and producers; increasing participation of women traders in select sectors; enhancing capacity in women-owned and women-led SMEs and MSMEs and improving the...

It is the dream of many business people to take their business across the border, and thanks to the East African Community (EAC), a regional economic community consisting of five countries, movement of people and capital is not restricted. The countries include Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi. Ideally, you should be able to work or do business in any of these countries. But which is the most lucrative hunting ground for a new business? There are no straightforward answers to this question. Starting a successful business depends on a myriad of factors. However, the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business Index together with other reports has tried to make it easier for you to make this decision. The easiest… Probably, you already know the answer. Rwanda is the easiest place to start a business in the region, ranking at position 35 in the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business. It takes less than a day to obtain an electronic signature from the Rwanda Development Board. The e-signature contains the user name and password which are used to log into the system for the registration process. Once the account is set up, a registration number is generated to enable users to proceed to online registration. This registration number is also the tax identification number (TIN) and VAT number of the company. Online registration which is free takes a day. The documents needed for submission are duly completed online application; proof of identity for each signatory of the memorandum of association form; and the...