President William Ruto coming into office is not just a formal transition  but rather, it creates a sense of a new beginning following a period of heavy political campaigns and a wait-and-see approach by many Kenyans. Since the beginning of the year, the business community witnessed a hesitation by many investors before embarking on new projects or expanding on existing ones. The decision-making process by the government also stagnated as the nation awaited the election of new leaders. All eyes are now on the government, waiting to see what the President and the elected leaders will prioritise in the short, medium and long term. Presently, our economic situation is characterised by the high and rising cost of living, unemployment, rising trade deficit and the public debt burden. Securing the future of industry is at the heart of our advocacy. This is why Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) continues to engage the government, among other stakeholders on the broader national goal and ambitions of Vision 2030. Bearing in mind the unique views of issues borne out of years of experience in the market and engagement with stakeholders, KAM has singled out four crucial aspects that the new government must prioritise. First, Kenya’s global competitiveness. When we speak of the country’s competitiveness, we are looking at our ability to sustainably produce goods and services for which there is a market – at a price and quality that the market is willing to pay for. Competitiveness may be local or regional and is now increasingly global. On...

ADOPTION of the 35 percent as the 4th band of East African Community (EAC) Common External Tariff (CET) by partner states will promote industrialization and boost intra- regional trade and investments. Chairperson of the East African Business Council (EABC) Angelina Ngalula Chairperson of the East African Business Council (EABC) Angelina Ngalula made the statement over the weekend when addressing the 8th meeting of the EABC board in Dar es Salaam. Ngalula outlined priorities set to boost intra-EAC trade and investments as she lauded the council’s secretariat for championing the adoption of 35 percent as the EAC CET 4th band. She said the board is steadfast in steering high-level policy advocacy through dialogue with the EAC Heads of State to unlock non-tariff barriers (NTBs), restrictions to free movement of services, double taxation, open skies, telecommunications and infrastructure development to boost intra-regional trade and economic resilience amid the global crisis. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) — global food price index of cereals, meat, and dairy rose by 26 percent whereas half of the countries in the Eastern Africa sub-region are net food importers. The situation makes the countries extremely vulnerable to higher global food and energy prices, rising inflation and food insecurity in the EAC bloc. The board urged the EAC Council of Ministers to fast track finalization of the regional local content policy and ratification of Article 24(2) of the Protocol on the Establishment of the Customs Union to operationalise the trade remedies committee...

DAR ES SALAAM, Sept. 25 (Xinhua) -- Burundian Vice-President Prosper Bazombanza has called on member states of the East African Community (EAC) to join forces in promotion of tourism in the region, the EAC said in a statement late Saturday. The statement issued in Tanzania's northern city of Arusha said Bazombanza also urged the member states to work together in standardization of tourism services and management of tourism resources if they are to realize the full potential of the sector in the region. Bazombanza made the appeal when he officially opened the 2nd EAC Tourism Expo on behalf of Burundian President Evariste Ndayishimiye in the capital Bujumbura. Although EAC member states are benefitting significantly from tourism through its contribution to the gross domestic product, foreign exchange earnings, creation of jobs and the potential for the sector across the region remains largely untapped, he said. "Application of common standards in the region will enable us enhance our competitiveness as a single tourism destination," he said. According to the EAC, the tourism expo slated for Sept. 23 through Sept. 30 is expected to attract over 250 exhibitors from over 10 countries, 120 international and regional travel agents and buyers as well as 2,500 trade visitors. The main objective of the tourism expo is to promote EAC as a single tourism destination. The theme for the 2022 EXPO is "Rethinking Tourism for Social Economic Development in the East African Community." The EAC member states are Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania, the Democratic...

Berbera 15th Sept: The Berbera Food Laboratory was launched today in a colourful ceremony officiated by Somaliland President H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi along with senior government officials, representatives of the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and TradeMark Africa (TMA).  The US$ 484, 540 project was funded by FCDO and implemented by Somaliland Quality Control Commission (SQCC) in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA). The project scope included procurement and installation of testing equipment to safeguard food safety in the country. This in turn is expected to boost traded food commodities and exports from Somaliland. The laboratory will undertake chemical and instrumental analysis, micro-biology, physical and chemical analysis of products. The President hailed the new laboratory, the first of its kind in the country as one that will greatly enhance the quality of Somaliland products for both local and international markets. He thanked TMA for their support on the corridor and encouraged the SQCC to make useful of the laboratory equipment. The President called for continued support in human resource development noting that, the aid the country receives was sometimes unmatched by skilled labour causing advanced equipment not to be used due to shortage of skilled labour. The President encouraged the SQCC chair to prioritise training and capacity building to make use of this advance equipment. The President awarded TMA a certificate of good partnership and appreciation to TMA country director Abdi Osman. Speaking at the event SQCC Chairman Mukhtar Mohamed explained that the new laboratories are in line...

09th Sept. Kigali: Two hundred and forty-six (246) Clearing and freight forwarding professionals have today attained the East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarding Practising Certificate in a colourful graduation ceremony held in Kigali Rwanda. The professional course, offered under the apex freight body, Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA) in collaboration with East African Revenue Authorities and the EAC Directorate of Customs and with financial support from TradeMark Africa, aims at cutting down transport and logistics costs as well as cargo-time along key trade corridors, which constitute a significant part of trade costs in the region. Equipping freight logistics industry professionals with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes enable them to clear cargo more efficiently and effectively. In Rwanda, the course is managed in a partnership with the Rwanda Revenue Authority and the Rwanda Freight Forwarders Association under supervision of the National Curriculum Implementation Committee (NCIC). EACFFPC was adopted as an East African Community course as an intervention under our private sector logistics programme implemented by the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA). Speaking during the graduation ceremony the Chief Guest, Rwanda Revenue Authority Commissioner of Custom Services Felicien Mwumvaneza hailed the course as a great trade enabler for the region as well as enhancing prospects for professionals in the industry.  “The certification opens doors for advancement in multiple sectors, including RRA functions, private sector within Rwanda and the region. I believe you will take advantage of these opportunities” said Mwumvaneza. Congratulating the graduating cohort, TradeMark...

Nairobi 25th August: Regional trade facilitation organisation TradeMark Africa has this morning signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Agricultural and Bioscience International (CABI) to cement collaboration and working together for the organisations to promote to enhance market access for regional produce. The two organisations have collaborated since 2017 to implement various Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Measures (SPS) projects across East Africa in, among other areas, conducting studies on SPS Gaps in the region and tools to remedy the situation. At a time when SPS issues are significant non-tariff barriers blocking regional produce from lucrative continental and global markets, TMA and CABI will now jointly support strengthening of national SPS systems, engagement with Regional Economic Communities and support AfCFTA implementation specifically the Protocol on Trade in Goods and Annex 7 on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures. Speaking during the MOU signing TMA CEO Frank Matsaert highlighted the immense potential the region’s agricultural sector holds, if risks in food safety, plant health and animal health are addressed “We look forward to working together in improving the safety of agricultural goods coming from this continent to the rest of the world to enhance market access. We will also bring our expertise of tapping into ICT to modernize how Standards and SPS licensing and regulation is undertaken for efficiency” On his part CABI Director for General Development Dr Dennis Rangi noted that the two organisations will create great synergies in SPS work which is a key catalyst to trade. “The coming...

The post-COVID-19 landscape the new U.K. leadership headed by Liz Truss inherits today shows widening social and economic disparities along with deeper inequalities of opportunities at the global level. Continuing the trend of cuts to the U.K. aid budget and the current policy of “aid for trade” will not provide the newly formed government with the backdrop to address some of the world’s largest poverty reduction challenges. U.K. leadership in the field of global aid and development was firmly established in 2013 when the country hit the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s target of giving 0.7% of gross national income as official development assistance. In 2021, after seven years of maintaining its 0.7% ODA contribution of GNI, the U.K. government lowered its commitment to 0.5% and cut its foreign aid budget by £4.6 billion, or $5.3 billion. Yet today, the poorest half of the world’s population shares only 8.5% of total global income. The global gender gap has increased by a generation, while racial and ethnic origin is a factor in multidimensional poverty. Furthermore, climate change is expected to push up to 135 million more people into poverty by 2030. The £4.6 billion cut seems small when compared to the over £10 billion known wastage in substandard personal protective equipment unfit for use at the peak of the pandemic in the United Kingdom. These cuts to the aid sector affect all four program areas identified as priority areas: health, education, climate, and humanitarian assistance. Effects of UK aid cuts According to ONE Campaign estimates, 7.1 million children will lose access to a “decent” education, of which 3.7 million are girls. These cuts will mean 5.3 million...

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) was signed on 21st March 2018 in Kigali, Rwanda, by 44 out of the 55 African countries, and brokered by the African Union (AU). This agreement was born of the realisation that total trade exports from Africa to the rest of the world are estimated at USD 760 billion; however, this is mostly in the form of raw materials and thus prevents Africa from deriving the true value of such exports. Considering that African exports to the world make up only 3% of the total world trade value, there exists much scope for improvement. No wonder then, in a 2020 report, the World Bank estimated that by 2035, real income gains from full implementation of the agreement could be 7%, or nearly USD 450 billion, while predicting that the agreement could contribute to lifting an additional 30m people from extreme poverty and 68m people from moderate poverty. Against this backdrop, it is clear that the AfCFTA has the potential to make a significant impact on improving the livelihoods of the African people, by boosting intra-African trade and generating new employment opportunities on an integrated African labour market. In a follow-up report (https://bit.ly/3wZhqmM) published in June 2022, the World Bank listed other potential benefits of the AfCFTA on labour including higher-paid, better-quality jobs, especially for women; as well as wage rises of 11.2% for women and 9.8% for men by 2035. Policymakers say that the free movement of labour will be a key contributor to the successful...

The contemporary era of regional trade across the globe is one of a complex interaction between people, companies, and organisations. Supply chains traverse countries and regions. Trade has become an everyday business, and its performance largely depends on connectivity along roads, rail, and sea, telecommunications, financial markets, and information processing. Nevertheless, despite such conspicuous knowledge of what facilitates trade, Africa’s regional trade potential remains hugely under-exploited. World Bank notes that trade between countries on the continent represents 12 per cent of the total economic activity compared to 40 per cent in Asia and 60 per cent in Europe. To help bridge this gap, African nations instituted the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement on 1 January 2021. This marked the dawn of a new era in intra-regional trade facilitation. The agreement aims to eliminate import tariffs on 97per cent of goods traded globally and address non-tariff barriers. It opens up a market of more than 1.3 billion people and is expected to boost intra-African trade while encouraging direct investment in the continent from the rest of the world. While the deal focuses on facilitating trade and services and easing the regulatory measures and technical trade barriers, a lot needs to be done. For Africa to boost intra-regional trade from the 12 per cent reported by the World Bank to the target of 20 per cent, it needs to make significant changes in technology, infrastructure, and policy reforms. For one, boosting intra-African trade requires Africa to encourage more investment opportunities...

The EABC-EASSI-TMA launched an EABC-TMA capacity building workshop to improve knowledge of over 50 women cross-border traders and youth on EAC simplified trade regime and exchange their experiences early this week  in Kigali-Rwanda John Bosco Kalisa, CEO of EABC explained that during the EABC’s public-private dialogues with trade facilitation agencies at single border crossings, cross-border women traders requested the establishment of storage and childcare facilities, cross-border markets and Scarp Off Issuance Fees for the EAC Simplified Certificate of Origin to facilitate their daily work. He urged that the maximum cargo value threshold under the EAC simplified trade regime, which is USD 2,000, be raised to USD 5,000 so that more trade can take place. “This EABC-TMA capacity building workshop will provide an update on the EAC Simplified Trade Regime and allow youth and women in cross-border trade to share their experiences on the usefulness of the trade regime. ” said John Bosco Kalisa, CEO of EABC.   For his part, Mr. Dennis Karera, Vice President of the East African Business Council (EABC), said that EABC is committed to advocating for an effective East African Community (EAC) simplified trade regime for trade that reflects the realities on the ground. He cited the fact that more than 40,000 cross-border traders, mostly women, use the small barrier between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He further urged the youth ambassadors and women cross-border traders to familiarize themselves with customs procedures and to pass on their knowledge to their counterparts in their associations...