In Summary Waema says there are over 150 drivers being held in two quarantine facilities in Busia county, some beyond 14 days. Ten others were recently transferred to Lodwar from Nandapal, the border between Sudan and Kenya, after staying in a quarantine facility for over two months. Long-distance truck drivers have complained of being held in quarantine facilities longer than necessary. Kenya Long Distance Truck Drivers and Allied Workers union chairman Roman Waema on Tuesday told the Star there are over 150 drivers in two quarantine facilities in Busia county, some have been there beyond 14 days. Ten others were recently transferred to Lodwar from Nandapal, the border between Sudan and Kenya after staying in a quarantine facility for over two months. Muhktar Hassan, a truck driver, said at the Sudanese quarantine facility, their test results kept fluctuating from positive to negative, raising doubts about the effectiveness of the kits. “After two months, they brought us to a quarantine facility in Lodwar behind the university and told us we will go for home-based care. But they are still holding us here,” Hassan said on the phone. He said the 10 have families who depend on them and have been suffering for the last two months. Waema said truckers are increasingly getting frustrated by government officers. “If you keep a driver at a facility for longer than required because they asked questions, what do you expect their families to eat?” he posed. Isaac Kirwa and Jacob Kamau are two of the...

Summary President Magufuli said the country was coronavirus-free thanks to prayers. He asked every local leader to use his or her capacity to be an ambassador for the rest of the world. Covid certificates will be available to both citizens and foreigners living in the country with plans to travel. After Tanzanian President John Magufuli declared the country free from Covid-19, the government has now issued new guidelines for obtaining coronavirus clearance certificates. The certificates will be available to both citizens and foreigners living in the country who plan to travel to countries where the documents are required. According to a statement issued by Minister for Health Ummy Mwalimu, the fee for screening is Tsh40,000 (about $17.26) for Tanzanians, Tsh60,000 (about $25.90) for foreigners who are residents and $100 for visitors in the country. In a statement released to the media, she said that travelers who have a Covid-19 clearance certificate will only be seen to be legal after it is stamped and verified electronically. “The procedure for obtaining the certificate is clear, the screening results will be taken to the regional chief medical office and issued within 72 hours for those who don’t have the infection and their names sent to the borders for verification,” she said. The tests can only be obtained at the regional hospitals and not otherwise. The regional chief chemist’s office will supervise the screening at the national laboratory and the traveler will be informed on the need to test five days before day of travel because the certificate is...

Diminishing demand for fresh produce in the European market has seen freighters cut down on their weekly flight frequencies to the continent. High seasons in the European market are always between September and May after which the demand for fresh produce goes down as summer kicks in. Europe is a major buyer of Kenya’s horticulture crops, with over 60 percent of the produce finding its way to the continent. During summer, most of the countries produce their own crops with many people going for holidays, cutting down demand. “We have witnessed a declining demand because of the low season in Europe, which is normally a tradition around this time of the year,” said Sanjeev Gadhia, the chief executive officer of Astral Aviation. Freighters are now doing more flights on intra-Africa routes. However, Kenya Airways is still servicing Asian market, mainly to China with three cargo flights slated for this week. Astral Aviation, which has been operating five flights a week to Europe, has now cut the number to four with a likelihood of reducing further depending on demand. The carrier is at the moment doing 20 intra-Africa flights a week, which is an increase from 14 it operated at the same time last year. Mr Gadhia said the traffic within Africa is good and the rates favourable basing on what they are charging at the moment. Fresh Produce Association of Kenya chief executive officer Ojepat Okisegere said a rise in demand in Europe might come earlier than expected because of...

In Summary The first berth completed in August 2019, the other two are completed while work to be finished soon on their yards. The three will be ready for commissioning but that won't happen soon, officials waiting for the worst of Covid-19 to pass. Construction of all three Lapsset berths is complete. The three worth Sh48 billion will be commissioned after the worst of the Covid-19 pandemic passes but that is not expected anytime soon. The first berth was completed in August 2019. Construction of the second and third berth, which are 1.2 kilometers long and about 18 metres wide, started in Kililana area in 2016. The Lamu Port is part of the Sh2.5 trillion Lamu Port South Sudan-Ethiopia Transport (Lapsset) Corridor that will open up northern Kenya and is expected to contribute 1.5 per cent to Kenya’s GDP. The port is a government initiative to develop a second deep sea port along the Coast. Speaking on Tuesday, Lapsset Corridor Development Authority director general and CEO Silvester Kasuku said the container yards for the last two berths will be completed shortly. “We want to officially announce construction of the second and third berths is done. We are working on the yards and then we shall be ready to launch,” Kasuku said. The first berth was to have been commissioned by President Uhuru Kenyatta in November last year but the event was postponed. The President said completion of the first three berths will present a strong case for private sector involvement...

NAIROBI, KENYA: The East African Business Council (EABC) has endorsed sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohammed for the World Trade Organization’s (WTO) Director-General position. In a statement, the outfit noted that Amina joining the WTO will be timely as Africa is keenly focusing on the African Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “She is a strong advocate for the actualization of the AfCFTA and has also chaired the WTO’s 10th Ministerial Conference held in Nairobi in 2015, the Dispute Settlement Body and the WTO’s General Council in 2005, her passion for international trade, exemplary strategic leadership, diplomatic and negotiation skills maker her the right candidate for the job,” said Peter Mathuki, CEO East African Business Council. Her success in the position will be a great opportunity for the EAC bloc and Africa towards championing global economic policy to increase the continent’s share in global trade. “The business community in East Africa is assured that Amb. Mohamed will steer the WTO to greater heights. As a former Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs and International Trade of the Republic of Kenya she is bold and proficient, it will be an honour for the continent to have the first African and first woman as the Director-General of the WTO,” said Dr. Mathuki. Mohamed said on Monday she is seeking Washington’s backing and expressed some sympathy with its criticism of the global body as she emerges as one of two reform-minded African female frontrunners. Delegates say Mohamed, a 58-year-old minister, and former WTO chair, is one of...

In Summary Sugar manufacturers have seen growth in surplus to about 170,000 tonnes as neighbouring countries, in which they have been selling some of the stockpiles, lockout sugar exports, especially from Uganda. Ugandan sugar manufacturers are facing an existential crisis after Kenya last week banned sugar imports, opting to solve challenges facing the country’s sugar industry. The ban means that at least 35,000 tonnes of sugar exports from Uganda will be locked out of Kenya, which is expected to increase Uganda’s stockpile. Uganda, according to Uganda Sugar Manufacturers Association, is currently grappling with stockpiles of about 150,000 tonnes with Tanzania, which had previously completely banned exports from Uganda, only allowing in about 20,000 tonnes. Mr. Jim Kabeho, the Uganda Sugar Manufacturers Association chairman yesterday told Daily Monitor the sector is in a crisis, which, unless urgently addressed by government and regional governments is expected to force out some manufacturers. “We are in a crisis. Local sales are low and now exports [are being locked out]. It is a big problem. If we can’t sell then factories are going to close,” he said, noting the crisis is expected to spread out to farmers, who can no longer sell their cane and efforts to sell it to countries such as Kenya have also faced challenges. Last week, Kenya closed out truckloads of cane from entering its territory for unexplained reasons. Kenya bans imports. About two weeks ago, Kenya’s Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya announced a ban on all sugar imports and subsequently...

Paradoxically, the health and economic crisis have shown that the restoration of local production will be achieved through greater trade and economic integration. The post-pandemic period promises to be a moment of opportunity for Africa, that of securing supply by bringing production back to the continent. Yet the risks of supply disruption are not as much linked to a lack of factories in Africa as they are to the concentration of trade. Africa imports 75% of its drugs from Europe, India, and China. First and foremost, securing supply requires greater diversification of suppliers, backed up by trade agreements. Can this be done in a way that benefits African countries? Intra-community trade within EAC Intra-continental trade circuits are more fragile than international circuits. Despite the pandemic, cargo aircraft continue to land in Nairobi, container ships dock in Djibouti and oil tankers leave Port Sudan. Traffic in the Kenyan port of Mombasa is only expected to decrease 2.1% in the first quarter of 2020 as compared to 2019. The problem lies elsewhere. Quality of infrastructure Intra-Community trade within the East African Community (EAC) represents only 20% of its total trade (as opposed to 70% in Europe). Several factors are to blame for this, including the poor quality of infrastructure, complex administrative procedures, low competition in the carrier industry, and a lack of interconnectivity between the various modes of transport. For example, clearing a container takes eight days in Mombasa, less than two days in Mauritius and barely ten minutes in Europe. These differences are even more pronounced...

In Summary The app will follow the trajectory of the truck and detect any smuggling or short-landing. The app is expected to be launched within two weeks. Truck drivers have welcomed a decision by the government to introduce an application through which they can access coronavirus test results. EU ambassador to Kenya Simon Mordue said Friday they are partnering the government to release the app in two weeks. The cargo transporters said on Sunday the app will limit the frequency of travel to Covid-19 test centres to pick their results. They also said the development will hasten the delivery of test results to individual drivers thus reducing the time they spend queuing on the roads. Mark Kibet who plies the Mombasa-Tororo route transporting clinker to the Tororo Cement Industry in eastern Uganda said he was ready to download and use the app. “That is a good decision because that app will help us when our samples have been taken. We will only be returning to our vehicles and wait for the results to come out through our phones,” he said in Amagoro. Results take two to three days and when they are released, drivers have had to travel again to Malaba to pick them, he said. Truck drivers are screened for the coronavirus after every 14 days and it has been cumbersome for them to travel to test centres to collect result certificates. Abdallah Boru who plies the Mombasa-Kampala and Mombasa-Juba routes said developers of the app deserve commendation. It...

Summary The chairlady of the Busia Cross-Border Cooperative, Ms Mariam Babu, said the banning of border trade has adversely affected over 7,000 traders. “Over 80 per cent of informal cross-border traders are women. This has caused strife in many families as women are unable to sustain their needs,” she said. The government says it will enhance surveillance on the Covid-19 pandemic at the country’s border points as it balances between minimising disruption of trade and keeping people healthy. Health Cabinet Administrative Secretary Rashid Aman, while raising concerns that the regions have become hotspots for transmission of the virus, assured traders Friday that they will not be adversely affected. “The sudden spike of cases is forcing us to put in place urgent but necessary measures to safeguard the lives of those involved and promote safe trade,” Dr Aman said in Busia. He attributed the increase in cases of Covid-19 at the border point to the huge traffic snarl-ups caused by truck drivers who queue to deliver goods on either sides of the boundary. “We are at the stage of community transmission and people must observe the stipulated health protocols,” he said. The European Union, in partnership with Trademark East Africa, donated Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to various stakeholders at the border. Led by EU Ambassador to Kenya Simon Mordue, the team delivered safety gears worth Sh552 million to both Kenyan and Ugandan authorities. The consignment included safety boots, reusable masks, infrared thermoguns, reusable face masks, hand sanitisers and gloves. Cross-border small-scale traders...

Addis Ababa July 17/2020(ENA) Ethiopia has secured 3.029 billion USD from export trade during the just ended Ethiopian fiscal year started on July, Ministry of Trade and Industry disclosed. In a presser today, State Minister for Trade and Industry, Misganu Arga said it was planned to secure 3.77 billion USD from the export during the fiscal year. The 3.029 billion USD income accounted for 80.4 percent, which has increased by 13 percent as compared to same period of last year, he added. The regularized work system and modernized follow-up schemes put in place over the past two years to advancing the nation’s revenue as well as enhanced collaboration among stakeholder, contributed for the registered positive achievement, he said. He stated that 77 percent of the total revenue goes to the agriculture sector with coffee, flowers, oilseeds, Khat and grains being the major items exported to the international market during the year. Out of the total revenue earned, coffee and flower account 28 and 15 percent respectively, while oilseeds, Khat and grains about 30 percent. The manufacturing and mining sectors also contributed for more than 20 percent of the total earnings. According to Misganu, the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic has negatively impacted the export earnings particularly the manufacturing sector. Ethiopia’s export earnings during the preceding budget year was 2.67 Billion USD, it was learned.