Kenya on Wednesday called for harmonized quality products standards across African countries in order to enhance intra-Africa trade. Peter Munya, cabinet secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, called on the African continent to commit to the progressive elimination of tariffs and non-tariff barriers to trade in order to contribute to the sustainable development of Africa. "Kenya is in talks with the African Organization for Standardisation (ARSO) member states to develop a common regulatory framework that will fast-track the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement," Munya said during the official opening ceremony of the 25th ARSO general assembly and the Africa day of Standardisation forum. He reaffirmed Kenya's commitment in promoting intra-African trade through elimination of import duties and non-tariff barriers, especially the technical barriers to trade (TBT). Bernard Njiraini, acting managing director of the Kenya Bureau of Standards called on African countries and the regional economic communities to harmonize standards, technical regulations and conformity assessment systems so as to realize the full benefits of the AfCFTA. "We are cognizant of the central role that standards and conformity assessment plays in the realization of the full benefits of the Free Trade Area Agreements (FTAs)," said Njiraini. Kenya, having been among the first batch of countries to ratify the AfCFTA agreement, is in the process of putting in place economic and trade policies that will support standards development systems and the quality infrastructure necessary to ensure conformity to standards, including testing, certification, and laboratory accreditation,...

East Africa remains a top destination for foreign direct investment, with new data for 2018 showing that the region attracted inflows of $4 billion. The latest World Investment Report 2019 by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development shows that despite flat growth in FDI in the larger East Africa, which remained largely unchanged at $9 billion due to contractions in Ethiopia, the East African Community partner states recorded impressive growth. In Uganda, inflows reached a historic high, increasing by 67 per cent to $1.3 billion, while Kenya posted a 27 per cent growth to $1.6 billion. In Tanzania, inflows grew by 18 per cent to $1.1 billion. During the year, investment flows were channelled to diverse industries, with manufacturing, chemicals, hospitality and oil and gas being the main attraction for foreign investors. Inflows to Ethiopia contracted by 18 per cent to $3.3 billion, although the country remains the biggest FDI recipient in the region, with investments in petroleum refining, mineral extraction, real estate, manufacturing and renewable energy. “Prospects in Ethiopia remain positive due to economic liberalisation, investment facilitation measures and the presence of investment ready special economic zones,” says the report. The report shows that Africa escaped the global decline in FDIs as flows to the continent cumulatively rose to $46 billion in 2018, an increase of 11 per cent. Flows to sub-Saharan Africa increased by 13 per cent to $32 billion. GROWTH The growth in Africa was attributed to rising demand for commodities that saw commodity prices surge. Africa...

The US has also built a Central Alarm Station and provided portable monitors to ensure any radiological or nuclear materials are immediately detected and analyzed at the facility. According to US Ambassador to Kenya, Kyle McCarter, the special equipment provided to the port of Mombasa will help in detecting material or chemicals used in manufacturing of weapons of mass destruction and other illicit goods. McCarter said the installation of the equipment is US support to Kenya’s effort in countering terrorism, smuggling of drugs, illicit goods and wildlife trophies through the port of Mombasa. He Wednesday handed over a modern server that will be installed at Kenya Ports Authority’s Central Alarm Station and connected to the 11 radiation portal monitors. “Today, what we are seeing here at the port of Mombasa is very costly technology. However, it is not about the technology alone, but the partnership we have created with Kenya,” said McCarter. The US has also trained multi-agency security team working at the port of Mombasa on how to detect proliferation of conventional weapons, drugs and other illicit goods. The team has also been trained on how to analyze shipping documents to assess a potential security risk associated to strategic goods. “We need to rejuvenate this economy for our young people. I believe if Kenya succeeds to grow, the East Africa region also grows,” said McCarter. The US has been supporting the port of Mombasa for the last one decade with the joint mission of bolstering security and boosting trade....

Uganda is set to host a major trade expo next week. Dubbed the ‘Sixth Uganda Trade Expo’, the event seeks to bring together different players in the industrial and service sector from across Africa.The expo which will take place on June 25 and 26 has been organised by Bright Exhibitions and will see participants enjoy free entry.It is expected to have exhibitors from automotive, agriculture, building construction, food and hotel, ICT, electronics, industrial machinery, lubricants, consumer households and medical and healthcare among others.The organisers say a number of Kenyan businesses have confirmed participation in the event, expected to be dominated by industry players from the East Africa Community (EAC). Trade within the regional block has been growing each year. In 2014, Uganda was the second largest export destination for Kenyan goods after Tanzania. The country exported goods worth about Sh67 billion and this made Uganda number seven of among Kenya’s leading trade partners.The opening of the One-Stop border point at Busia further made the flow of people, goods and services easier. Kenya remains a favourable gateway for Uganda which has no shoreline. Spirited efforts have been in the work to extend the railway connection as well build a standard gauge railway line connecting Mombasa Port to Uganda.Last year, reports emerged that Uganda was emerging as a strong market in the region with some media reports indicating that it could overtake Kenya as the regional ‘big boy of trade’. Source: Standard Digital

President Paul Kagame has expressed his confidence that Africa will soon expand the horizon of opportunities through the recently established African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA). AfCTA will be formally launched next month at the African Union Summit in Niger. While attending the opening ceremony of this year’s European Development Days (EDD) under the theme “Inequalities: trends and challenges in the context of globalization, Kagame said that Africa is still lagging behind in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) implementation. In this Kagame said that there is more work ahead but all in all Africa is ready to kick start the deal but with a call for external collaborative help. “It is more imperative than ever that developing countries take more effective lead of their general development agenda, as well as raising the level of prosperity. It is not something that can be done by external actors alone,” Kagame said. This was not the first time the president attends EDD. Kagame participated in the 2017 and 2018 sessions with various leaders including the Belgian PM Charles Michel, and Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Union Commission. In the previous meets, Kagame also reminded global leaders of the need for Africa and Europe to see each other as partners and friends rather than foes. This year, Kagame acknowledged that there has been an increasing understanding and acceptance by development partners of the need for those on the receiving end of assistance to drive their own development agenda. Using the Rwandan example, Kagame...

Somalia has joined DR Congo in seeking to join the fast-growing East African Community. The community currently consists of six nations namely; Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, and South Sudan. Somalia has been pushing to join the bloc since 2013 when it presented its application to the EAC secretariat. In July 2018, the Horn of Africa nation secured a place in the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), a free trade zone comprising of 21 African nations. Since joining COMESA, Somalia’s standing on the continent has improved. The move has taken it a step closer to gaining membership in the East African Community. DR Congo submitted their official request to join EAC on 8th June through a letter addressed to the leader of the community President Paul Kagame. The country has a wealth of natural resources such as cobalt, gold, diamond, copper, and oil which could drive economic growth in the region. DR Congo already shares strong trade ties with most East African countries like Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania. By allowing the two countries into the East African bloc, the region will benefit from a large consumer market comprising of over 235 million residents up from roughly 150 million people currently found in the EAC. Additionally, intra-regional trade is set to increase with the addition of new members into the community. Somalia’s long coastline along the Indian Ocean is also likely to contribute to the economic expansion of the East African region. Even with the huge economic potential in...

Last week, the Ebola virus crossed from the Democratic Republic of Congo into Uganda.  Since then, the virus has not only claimed two lives, but also brought trade along the border region to a virtual halt. Businessman Penge Kiss has been importing fish for the last 15 years from Uganda to the Democratic Republic of Congo. But for the last week, Kiss says he has had little choice but to stay in Uganda because of the Ebola outbreak along the border. “Kinshasa, we don’t know Ebola.  But when you get here at the border, wash hands, wash hands, wash hands," Kiss said. "And when I got here, we’ve worked three days.  In Congo, there’s no business.  They say there’s Ebola, so we have to sit and wait and even all the banks are closed.” Motorcycle taxi driver Farouk Ayub says Ebola makes him afraid to cross into Congo.“Normally, Congolese are the ones we transport mostly.  We get them from Congo and take them to Uganda..  But we are scared because of Ebola," Ayub said. "So now we ask, we don’t know how you can help advise us, how can we protect ourselves against Ebola?” Ugandan businessman Raphael Masereka says he and his colleagues are warning people not to shake hands with merchants from the DRC.  Ebola is spread through contact with body fluids. The Ugandan Red Cross is in charge of Ebola screening at all official entry points from the DRC. But Red Cross branch manager Natukunda Primrose says the...

The construction of the transnational highway between east African countries Kenya and Tanzania will begin in early 2020, the financier said on Tuesday. Gabriel Negatu, east Africa director general of the African Development Bank (AfDB) said in Nairobi that funding for the 460km road should be approved in September. "Both the Kenya and Tanzania governments have finalized all their requirements to pave way for the construction of the coastal highway," Negatu said during the Kenya roadshow for the upcoming second edition of the Africa Investment Forum. The forum which is scheduled to take place from Nov. 11 to 13 in South Africa is the continent's investment marketplace for accelerated economic transformation. Negatu said that the Kenya-Tanzania transnational highway is expected to cost 75.1 billion Kenyan shillings (751 million U.S. dollars). Negatu said that highway runs through Malindi, Mombasa and Lunga Lunga on the Kenyan side and Horohoro, Tanga and Bagamoyo on the Tanzanian side. The transnational highway is among the infrastructure projects being prioritized by the East African Community. AfDB will finance 70 percent of the coastal highway while the governments of Kenya and Tanzania will cover the remaining 30 percent. Source: Xinhau

THE government has expressed its keenness on improving cross-border business to warrant a hassle free trading environment. The Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Responsible for Investment, Ms Angellah Kairuki said yesterday World Bank assessment has ranked the country cross-border business position at 144 slots out of 190 positions globally. “Our goal is to reach a best position [globally] by improving our country’s trading environments at borders,” she said. The minister said that in Dar es Salaam during the breakfast meeting involved various local women traders and entrepreneurs from various regions countrywide. The occasion was organised by the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and targeted to discuss solution of various commercial challenges facing women traders across the country. Ms Kairuki advised women to unite to find solution for their challenges and grab available economic opportunities in order to participate in improving the country’s economic developments especially in supporting the country to reach the target of industrial economy. Earlier at the same occasion, a woman trader from Kigoma Region, Ms Doroth Takwe, requested the government to see how to issue specially identity cards to cross-border traders instead of temporary passport which expires shortly and costly. “We thank the government for some improvements of commercial environments especially at borders’ areas, but the major challenge remained is the issue of passport. “We are using temporary passport but expires within a day and the cost is 20,000/-and repeats frequently. We request the authority to help us with an alternative means,” she said....

Uganda is predominately an informal exporter mainly trading with its neighbours. According to 2014 Bank of Uganda (BoU) data, the country registered an informal trade surplus. The 2014 BoU data indicates that informal trade accounted for more than 30 per cent of all Ugandan exports, earning about Shs1.5 trillion. DR Congo, which fetched $139m, was Uganda’s largest informal exports destination followed by South Sudan and Kenya, which fetched $119m and $92m, respectively. Additionally, data from BoU further indicates that informal cross-border exports earned a combined $595m in the 2017/18 financial year with DR Congo continuing to dominate as Uganda’s export destination fetching up to $291m in the period. It was followed by Kenya at $149m, Rwanda and South Sudan at $54m each while Tanzania fetched some $45m. Agricultural produce, mainly beans, maize, sugar, other grains, bananas and fish as well as locally manufactured goods were the most informally exported items during the period. Therefore, it is quite important and urgent, that while priority continues to be given to formal traders, some focus and steadfastness ought to be directed towards informal cross border traders too. A 2015 study conducted by United Nations Economic Commission for Africa indicated that informal trade in Uganda provided more than 59 per cent of non-farm private sector jobs, underscoring its significance in addressing the employment challenge that Uganda finds herself in. Different studies indicate that more than70 per cent of women-owned businesses are in informal trade, accounting for a significant majority of employment in this sector. Women spend much...