Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA), launched the Ethiopian Chamber Digital Service (ECDS), a digital system that enables the chamber to provide its services online to its members, the business community and the public at large. Irish Aid Ethiopia through TradeMark Africa (TMA) funded the development of ECDS; with the support channelled to supply the ICT infrastructure and software development. ECDS will move ECCSA services from manual and physical visit to digitized services in which traders get trade facilitation services at their convenient time and place, specially enabling ECCSA and its members to register their members online.  Moreover, it paves a way for companies to get registered and renew membership online and pay fees electronically. Ultimately, the electronic system contributes to the ease of doing business in Ethiopia by enabling traders to easily fulfil requirements and reduce transaction costs of trade. In addition to trade facilitation and membership management, ECDS has automated trade and investment promotion service, chamber academy, identifying Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), legal counselling and arbitration services, putting in one place key trade information for ease of access and dissemination. It becomes a single source for chamber services with lesser cost and time. ECDS is integrated to the Ethiopia Electronic Single Window System (EeSWS), and telebirr to further enhance the issuance of the Certificate of Origin and other trade facilitation. Presiding over the launch, his excellency Ato G/Meskel Chala, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration said ‘’ECCSA is highly appreciated to prepare and implement this new Project...

TRADEMARK East Africa (TMA) in partnership with the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) have embarked on the second phase of the Integrated Standards, Quality Assurance, Metrology and Testing” (iSQMT) system that seeks to enhance service delivery. The TradeMark Africa Country Director Monica Hangi elaborates a point during an exclusive interview with The Guardian Newspaper held at the TradeMark office in Dar es Salaam. Photo by Geoffrey Nangai. This follows the successful completion and launch of first phase of the (iSQMT) system last year that automated the standardisation and quality control of products and services provided by TBS. Through the system, TBS automated its core processes that include standards development, product certification, system certification, import inspection, metrology and testing. The iSQMT was also integrated to the e-Government payment gateway platforms which guarantee fully automated processes from application, payment and acquisition of the final product (certificate/permit). The Foreign Commonwealth development office, Ireland, and Norway funded the development of these systems with a contribution of $600,000 for the iSQMT portal and US$350,000 for the e-learning platform. The TradeMark Africa Country Director Monica Hangi while speaking to The Guardian in an exclusive interview held at the TradeMark office in Dar es Salaam said the completion of the second phase of iSQMT system will enhance the standards and quality control, adding that plans are underway for accreditation of four of TBS testing laboratories. “During the second phase of the system, our target is to at least accredit testing laboratories for TBS in Dar es Salaam...

KAMPALA – The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) is set to decentralise its laboratory testing services to its Regional Offices in Mbarara, Gulu and Mbale following a boost in Laboratory Testing Equipment donated by Trade Mark East Africa (TMA) with support from the Danish Government. During the official launch of laboratory equipment used for testing of products geared towards fighting against COVID-19, the Danish Ambassador to Uganda, H.E Nicolaj A. Hejberg Petersen, said that Danida through TMA is facilitating the decentralisation of the UNBS testing centres in three major cities of Mbarara, Gulu and Mbale by purchasing laboratory equipment worth USD 1,885,280 (approximately UGX 6.9 billion) to help take testing services closer to the people. Laboratory testing is instrumental in: Securing export markets for Ugandan products by carrying out tests required by the International markets. Testing locally manufactured products especially from SMEs to check their conformity with the quality standards, thus helping the manufacturers improve product quality and access market. Assisting local manufacturers and researchers in product development by testing their samples to determine conformity during the development process. Protecting consumers by testing products on the market (both imported and locally made) to ensure that they are safe for human consumption. “Denmark is passionate about promoting private sector development in Uganda and the decentralisation of testing services will promote a conducive business environment, ensure improved quality of products and contribute to efficiency in UNBS’ service delivery.” H. E Nicolaj A. Hejberg Petersen added. The UNBS Executive Director, Mr. David...

The Mombasa Tea Auction has been fully automated to boost efficiency and transparency. East Africa Tea Trade Association (EATTA), which runs the auction said that the new Integrated Tea Trading System (iTTS) costs Sh230 million. The automation was funded by the Danish International Development Agency (Danida) through Trade Mark East Africa, said EATTA chairman Arthur Sewe. Mr Sewe said automation of the auction will reduce the period in the tea trading cycle as well as direct costs associated with the auction process. The iTTS project automated the manual processes along the tea value chain and stakeholders hope it will enhance tea volumes traded at the auction and productivity. He said iTTS will ensure availability and access to tea trade data in a timely, reliable, accurate and verifiable manner. “When fully implemented, iTTS will significantly reduce the need for physical presence or representation. It will simplify the tea trading process, reducing, among other things, the learning curve for new entrants into the tea sector and streamlining of processes,” Mr Sewe said. He noted that automation will contribute to an increase in the income of farmers even in the event that prices remain constant. Mr Sewe explained that the digital platform will enable tea packers to effectively participate in the auction and enhance the opportunities for marketing and selling value-added teas. KTDA board chairman David Ichoho expressed hope that smallholder farmers will gain following the automation of the auction. [Sammy Omingo, Standard] “iTTS will increase the volumes of tea sold at the auction....

Summary Report suggests that the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war on African economies should be negligible, because of “limited trade exposure”. Countries rich in metal and mineral resources like DR Congo and Zambia are expected to grow by 4.8 percent in the next two years, as metal prices surge due to increased demand. East Africa and southern Africa are expected to register the highest growth, which the World Bank says is because it is “characterised by a diversified economy that is more integrated than other regions in sub-Saharan Africa”. Africa’s economic growth is projected to drop to 3.4 percent this year, down 0.6 percentage points from the four percent growth recorded in 2021, due to new macroeconomic shocks. The latest Africa Pulse report, a biannual analysis of Africa’s macroeconomic outlook by the World Bank, released on Wednesday, said inflation and higher costs of living contribute to the decline. According to the report, the decrease is from economic shocks including effects of new Covid-19 variants, inflation, supply disruptions, rising public debt, climate shocks and a general slowdown in the global economy, especially in the US and China. “The slowdown in growth reflects challenges facing Africa prior to the Ukraine crisis, but have been exacerbated by the war,” said Albert Zeufack, the World Bank’s chief economist for Africa. The report suggests that the impacts of the Russia-Ukraine war on African economies should be negligible, because of “limited trade exposure”. “Resource-rich countries, especially their extractive sectors, will see improved economic performance due to...

The Government has resolved to import only finished petroleum products through TAZAMA. Energy Minister PETER KAPALA says INDENI refinery will no longer refine crude petroleum products. Mr. KAPALA says the change in the supply structure will shorten the petroleum price review cycle. He says INDENI has been relying on Government support to refine crude products. The Minister says an assessment done by government has revealed that it will be cheaper to import finished products than import crude oil. And Mr. KAPALA says government is currently servicing the over 5 hundred million dollar debt in price support and subsides to oil companies. Speaking during a media briefing in Lusaka today, Mr. KAPALA also announced that the Energy Regulation Board -EEB- will next week Thursday, March 31, announce new fuel pump prices. Mr. KAPALA said despite the adverse effects that the international oil prices have on the country; the fuel supply situation has remained stable above the minimum required threshold. He said the increase in the prices of both crude and finished petroleum products has been caused by the robust demand against strained supply following the tension between Russia and Ukraine. Mr. KAPALA said it is anticipated that the price of crude oil will remain high above 100 dollars per barrel beyond March 2022. He said prices will continuously be adjusted in line with dictates that influence prices in order to maintain domestic prices at cost reflective levels. Read original article

Summary According to the East African Business Council (EABC) trade volumes at the official Holili border crossing with Kenya have picked up lately. Trucks carrying goods increased by 73 percent last year to 33,000 from 19,000 in 2020, a sign of recovery and resilience against Covid-19 impact and easing of restrictions. Moshi. Smuggling of goods has declined sharply at the Holili border post between Tanzania and Kenya, thanks to easing of restrictions. Revenue agency officials and traders alike have confirmed that the use of alternative ‘panya’ routes has gone down in favour of the official route. Yusuph Mwahu, a Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) official in charge of Customs has attributed this to intensified public sensitisation programmes. “The decline in smuggling has boosted trade between the two countries. The volumes have increased in recent weeks,” he told The Citizen in an interview. Mr Mwahu said unlike in the past the revenue authorities and other border agencies from the two countries at Holili were now closely cooperating, hence boosting trade. Ms Diana Mtaita, a woman trader from Kenya said they were now using the official border routes as there was no need to smuggle goods across the borders. “We have been sensitised on the need to pay the required levies and the risks of using the ‘panya’ routes. That include confiscation of our goods,” she said. However, she said they were burdened by high taxation for their merchandise that do not fetch much in the markets due to their low value. Mr Makulomba...

NAIROBI, Kenya, Apr 11 – The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has stepped up measures to contain smuggling of goods along the Kenya and Uganda border. The efforts jointly undertaken by Kenya and Uganda target to close in on unscrupulous businessmen who use illegal routes to smuggle goods into the country evading tax. KRA Malaba One Stop Border Post (OSBP) Manager Kimani Kang’ethe said the joint patrols have yielded fruits with KRA now collecting 100% revenue at the border. The measures alongside the establishment of the OSBP which has brought all government bodies in charge of clearance of cargo and people from the two countries under one roof, he added, has seen a growth in revenue from Sh962 million in 2012 to Sh4.2 billion in 2021. With enhanced surveillance along the border and inland along the Eldoret-Malaba Highway, he said KRA targets to net Sh5 billion by the close of this financial year. KRA, he added, has embarked on sensitisation of the business community, small scale traders and women engaged in cross border trade on the need to make use of the OSBP. “We are sensitizing them on the importance of taking advantage of the East African Community (EAC) treaty where they are exempted from paying duty for goods. They only pay Value Added Tax (VAT),” he said. “We are also working with the Cross Border Women Association to ensure that all their goods pass through the OSBP to net additional revenue,” he added. Speaking during a tour of the facility...

Summary ECA says the Ukraine crisis has exacerbated the economic and social vulnerabilities of African states, with food, oil and fertiliser prices reaching 14-year highs. The crisis has caused a 75 percent rise in crude oil prices, 67 percent rise in wheat prices, and 52 percent rise in maize prices. Fertiliser prices have risen by 21 percent since the war began. ECA projects that the Ukraine war will further contract Africa’s real GDP growth by 0.7 percent in 2022, raise inflation by 2.2 percent and drive 43 African states into fiscal deficit stress. The Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA) agreement could be the continent’s Marshall Plan for recovery as the region faces a further economic disruption from the Russia-Ukraine war. Economists from the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) say the continent must now implement the agreement fast as it presents insurance for the future. The experts had this week gathered for a webinar convened by the East African Business Council (EABC) to discuss the turmoil caused by Covid-19 as well as the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Mama Keita, the director of ECA sub-regional office for Eastern Africa noted that “Africa’s recovery has been hindered by higher inflation, tighter global financial conditions, rising interest rates and the Ukraine crisis further compound the situation.” ECA says the Ukraine crisis has exacerbated the economic and social vulnerabilities of African states, with food, oil and fertiliser prices reaching 14-year highs. The crisis has caused a 75 percent rise in crude oil prices,...

Summary The business associations, seen as the most affected by the non-tariff barriers (NTBs), say having common standards of safety, sanitation and the list of documentations would help reduce unnecessary delays. The traders intend to file their proposals with respective export departments for agreeable standards. Kenyan and Ugandan traders have signed a memorandum of understanding to help end continual tiffs on non-tariff regulations. In a joint communique, the two sides pledged to harmonise policies on agriculture to reduce delays and cut down on bureaucracies in doing business. “The signing of this memorandum today will enhance agricultural trade between Uganda and Kenya, improve interdependence of agro-based industries in the two countries. The document will advance and actualise the resolutions arrived during September 2021 at a trade symposium in Mombasa,” read the joint communique. The business associations, seen as the most affected by the non-tariff barriers (NTBs), say having common standards of safety, sanitation and the list of documentations would help reduce unnecessary delays. The traders intend to file their proposals with respective export departments for agreeable standards. Building linkages During a trade symposium in Mombasa last year, Ugandan High Commissioner to Kenya Wasswa Galiwango and Consulate General to Mombasa Paul Mukumbya promised to actualise the issues discussed to help build linkages that increase export volumes to Kenya. During the signing of the MoU on Wednesday, Mr Mukumbya said Uganda will benefit considering it has a surplus of agricultural produce with need for a ready market. “The two countries have come up...