Rwanda will continue to deepen reforms in the logistics sector as it aims to cut costs that undermine the country’s competitiveness, Claver Gatete, the Minister of Infrastructure, emphasized Thursday while opening the Global Logistics Convention2019 in Kigali. This, he said, is central to the Government’s agenda of putting the private sector at the center of transformation, which is contained in the national strategy for transformation. Sector player is optimistic the conference can spur countries to enhance rail and water transport, embrace technology and curb political friction, among other challenges. Gatete noted that while Rwanda has made important gains in the ease of doing business, transport costs—which accounts for about 30 percent to 40 percent of the total cost of goods—undermine the country’s competitiveness and trade. “Indeed, the cost of doing business in East Africa is among the highest in the world and the cost of transport is a key contributor to the cost of doing business in the region and a critical component of competitiveness of regional companies,” he said. The cost is largely driven by inadequate infrastructure and inefficient customs procedures, the minister disclosed. Non-tariff barriers affecting transport in East Africa are estimated at between 3 percent and 16 percent of the cost of the product, according to Overseas Development Institute‎ (ODI). In the recent past, Rwanda has implemented a number of trade facilitation initiatives including, the introduction of the Rwanda Electronic Single Window, which has enabled faster clearance of imports and exports in addition to improving efficiency, transparency,...

The 3rd Global Logistics Convention kicked off on Thursday with a US$3.5 million deal signed between Trade Mark East Africa and the Federation of East Africa’s Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA), to raise capacity in East Africa’s logistics sector. The four-year “EAC Logistics Sector Skills Enhancement Program” funded by USAID through TradeMark Africa, and implemented by FEAFFA; will address existing skills gaps in the region that have since resulted into high costs of doing business within the community. The program will help build skills of customs agents, freight forwarders and warehouse operators. TradeMark Africa’s Director, Patricia Ithau and FEAFFA President Fred Seka signed the agreement. After the signing, Seka said the funding will facilitate introduction of a higher-level qualification that will build on the success of the certificate program, such as exposing practitioners to global practices and position them as global logisticians. Meanwhile, Ithau encouraged logistics stakeholders and governments to adopt and institutionalize policies that make the industry conducive for women. “The gender gap is still prevalent in the logistics sector. Women make up only 20% and are rarely in the upper echelons of the businesses that employ them,” she said. “Logistics sector in East Africa is a leading employer and accounts for over $15 billion in value. Yet, discussions on the sector have not been prioritized.” The Global Logistics Convention is an annual freight logistics event organized by FEAFFA and the Rwanda Transporters Association, in collaboration with various government agencies and the private sector federation (PSF). Previously, similar conventions were held...

The Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) has received a USD 3.5 million grant from TradeMark Africa to raise the capacity of logistics sector operators.  The 4-year programme is aimed at upskilling customs agents, freight forwarders and warehouse operators across East Africa. The grant was signed at the sidelines of the third Global Logistics Convention, a two-day at the Kigali International Convention Centre. TMA Board Member Ms. Patricia Ithau said they are promoting logistics platforms in various countries in order to facilitate public-private sector dialogue to improve logistics. “These initiatives aim at developing stronger regional integration and cooperation to reduce Non-tariff barriers,” she said. Denis Karera, Vice-Chairperson of the East African Business Council, stressed the need to eliminate corruption as it is playing a critical role in hampering trade. The theme of this year’s convention is  “Logistics; the engine of economic growth and development”. Which aims to offer an opportunity for professionals in the transport and freight logistics sector from all over the world to share best practices, engage with transport and logistics policy makers, interact with a wide range of stakeholders as well as learn emerging trends, developments, opportunities and threats to the sector across the globe. The Convention has been held successfully in the last two years, first in Tanzania in the year 2017 and last year in Kampala, Uganda. The summit is hosted by Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations members in the respective East African Partner States. Source: Khusoko

The 3rd Global Logistics Convention kicked off on Thursday with a US$3.5 million deal signed between Trade Mark East Africa and the Federation of East Africa’s Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA), to raise capacity in East Africa’s logistics sector. The four-year “EAC Logistics Sector Skills Enhancement Program” funded by USAID through TradeMark Africa, and implemented by FEAFFA; will address existing skills gaps in the region that have since resulted into high costs of doing business within the community. The program will help build skills of customs agents, freight forwarders and warehouse operators. TradeMark Africa’s Director, Patricia Ithau and FEAFFA President Fred Seka signed the agreement. After the signing, Seka said the funding will facilitate introduction of a higher-level qualification that will build on the success of the certificate program, such as exposing practitioners to global practices and position them as global logisticians. Meanwhile, Ithau encouraged logistics stakeholders and governments to adopt and institutionalize policies that make the industry conducive for women. “The gender gap is still prevalent in the logistics sector. Women make up only 20% and are rarely in the upper echelons of the businesses that employ them,” she said. “Logistics sector in East Africa is a leading employer and accounts for over $15 billion in value. Yet, discussions on the sector have not been prioritized.” The Global Logistics Convention is an annual freight logistics event organized by FEAFFA and the Rwanda Transporters Association, in collaboration with various government agencies and the private sector federation (PSF). Previously, similar conventions were held...

Logistics is an important sector that is central to seamless trade. Although infrastructure remains the biggest challenge to the sector, inadequate skills among professionals is another impediment. Bucyana Murekezi, Chartered Member of the International Institute of Logistics and Transport (IILT) joins CNBC Africa for more. Source: CNBC Africa

The much delayed Lamu Port construction project has achieved a major breakthrough with the completion of its first berth, and the facility is now set to welcome a super huge vessel in October. According to the Kenya Ports Authority managing director Daniel Manduku, the first berth is 100 per cent complete and the first super post-panamas vessel will dock at the facility on October 20. “The first berth will be capable of handling any kind of vessels especially the self-sustaining vessels. KPA has put in place plans to install three Ship to Shore gantries by the time the remaining two berths are ready for operation in October 2020,” Dr Manduku said in a statement. The Lamu Port-South Sudan-Ethiopia-Transport (Lapsset) Corridor Development Authority, which is supervising the project, had earlier said on social media that the second and third berths will be completed by December 2020. Construction of the berth began in October 2016, and the contractor – China Communication Construction Company – was expected to complete works by March 2018. However, this did not happen due to “unforeseen circumstances”, according to Lapsset Corridor Development Authority director general Sylvester Kasuku. Nevertheless, Mr Kasuku maintained that the three berths planned for phase one of the Lamu Port development project would be finalised within the official timeline of 2020. “China Communication Construction Company is expected to complete construction of the (first) three berths by the year 2020 at a cost of Sh48 billion,” he said during a tour of the project last year....

Matthew M. Gibson, Co-Founder, CEO & President Syngrafii Inc. has teamed up with TradeMark Africa to provide The EAC Secretariat with a better and faster solution for the execution of critical official documents, simultaneously taking care of the confidential information. FREMONT, CA: Syngrafii Inc. and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have collaborated and further allied with The EAC Secretariat to transform the procedure of executing agreements between the Partner States by deploying a digital channel for the signing of official documents. TMA has facilitated a digital channel's deployment within The EAC Secretariat, where the first Syngrafii LongPen was installed along with Paper to provide enhanced operational performance, more significant geographic market reach, and speedier document execution for The EAC Member States. This will serve distinct government initiatives and their respective business units together with their partners as well as the constituents they serve. Syngrafii was featured in CIO Review as one of the 20 Most Promising Cisco Solution Providers - 2019. It is the sole organization in the world that offers the choice of executing original biometric ink signatures upon hard copy or electronic documents when and wherever it is needed. Syngrafii's HTML5 web-based signing solution, LongPen applies one-time use original wet ink signatures, each biometrically accurate and with a unique feature. This patented device ensures regulatory, legal, and internal compliance adherence. Similar to LongPen, sPaper is also a patented HTML5 web-based solution, which supports remote signatures on desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets. It provides live, interactive, and collaborative group sessions with the...

August 25, 2019 (JUBA) – South Sudan National Revenue Authority (NRA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have inked an agreement to promote trade and help the young nation, whose economy largely depends on oil revenues, diversify into other sectors by establishing modern systems for the faster clearance of goods. The deal, officials said in statement, will link South Sudan to the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking system (RECTs), which is currently implemented on the Northern Corridor in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through the respective revenue and customs administrations. RECTs is a web-based integrated system used to monitor transit cargo from departure to the final destination. The new trade agreement is in important in that it will assist Juba in reducing the cost of security bonds, theft and diversions, and enhance security on the transit route from the port of Mombasa. TMA, however, said it hopes South Sudan’s Government of National Unity, expected to be inaugurated on November 12, will materialise. “We are committed to doing our part, but it has to be stressed that we need a government of national unity to stick to the peace deal and start doing good work for the citizens in November,” said TMA CEO Frank Matsaert at the signing of the deal on Friday last week. South Sudan, where oil revenues make up nearly 98 percent of the budget, has been reeling an under economic crisis due to civil war. Source: NewsAfricaNow

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has called on East African Community (EAC), member states to embrace free trade to boost regional integration that is necessary for sustainable growth and development in the region. Speaking to officials from the East African Business Council (EABC), at Entebbe State House over the weekend Mr Museveni said no future markets for East African good and services without free-trade in East Africa Community, Africa and globally. “There is no serious industry that can survive on the internal market alone and that free trade is the minimum leaders could do to uplift East African livelihoods,” said Mr Museveni as quoted in an EABC statement issued on Sunday. The EABC official had called on President Museveni to engage him on different matters of regional trade which include EAC Common External Tariff (EAC CET), Africa open skies agreement, one network area on telecommunication, harmonization of standards in the EAC and strengthening the EAC secretariat on enforcement of laws. Others are market access with Democratic Republic of the Congo, transport inter-linkages in the region-road, rail and water (Lake Victoria), inter-governmental trade dispute resolution mechanism and closer government involvement and government partnership with the private sector. EABC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Peter Mathuki said that comprehensive review of the EAC CET was yet to be finalized four years down the line adversely affecting intra-EAC trade. The Ugandan leader expressed the importance of partnership between the East African Community (EAC), governments and the private sector. “Private sector is the dynamic and...

The South Sudan National Revenue Authority (NRA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have entered a trade facilitation agreement, which will link the Central African nation to the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS). The electronic system is currently implemented on the Northern Corridor in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC through the respective revenue and customs administrations. Also, the tracking system will help Juba promote trade and diversify from oil revenues by establishing modern systems for faster clearance of goods at borders. Basically, RECTS will enable real-time tracking of transit cargos to or from DRC. This will be done through an online platform monitored in control centres in the four countries where the system operates: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Congo and now South Sudan. With these control centres, the risk of consignment diversion in checkpoints will be reduced, ultimately minimizing checkpoint fraud and cargo theft. NRA Commissioner General Olympio Attipoe noted that the move is important as Juba aims to reduce the cost of security bonds, theft, and diversions, as well as enhance security on the transit route from the port of Mombasa. This development comes as South Sudan struggles to form a national unity government. The country gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but descended into a civil war two years later. After a string of failed agreements, a peace deal was signed last September between the opposition and the ruling parties. However, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in a statement in May announced that both parties agreed to give themselves six more months to...