Finland’s transformation from an agriculture-based economy to an innovation powerhouse is an example of resilience. Emerging from a devastating civil war, and later defending ourselves against the Soviet Union, we rebuilt our nation. Some of the key elements in Finland’s development have been opening our economy and fostering trade, and recognising its critical importance. We began with initial steps and modest means. An education policy – basic education for all – was established just four years after gaining independence, followed later by a science policy and the expansion of universities, which created the base for innovation policy underpinned by research innovation and investments. Other founding elements needed to create a conducive business environment were good governance, trust in political and social institutions, a predictable legal system, inclusion of women, respect for human rights and openness to new ideas. Central to our success has been a firm belief in free trade. Trade liberalisation has played a pivotal role in shaping Finland into the modern welfare state it is today. It has driven economic growth, generated tax revenues, benefited consumers, created employment opportunities, attracted investments, fostered innovation, and enhanced competitiveness. Finland’s economy has traditionally been driven by exports. The ability to trade freely has facilitated the import of capital goods and technology, which has been essential for Finland’s industrialisation. Free trade agreements concluded between the European Union (EU) and other countries have allowed Finnish companies to access larger markets, ultimately contributing to the nation’s prosperity. Key characteristics of today’s Finnish innovation system...

Dans le secteur de Ndego, district de Kayonza, les rives du lac Kibare bourdonnent d'activité tous les jeudis. Des bateaux déchargent des tonnes de marchandises en provenance de Tanzanie, tandis que d'autres chargent des marchandises en provenance du Rwanda à destination de la Tanzanie. Le lac Kibare revêt une importance régionale car il est traversé par la rivière Akagera. Après le déchargement, les hommes et les femmes transportent des sacs de marchandises telles que du riz, du maïs, du sorgho, des haricots, du manioc, des bananes, du taro, des ignames et des poulets jusqu'au marché de Kibare. Ils chargent également d'autres marchandises sur des bateaux à destination de la Tanzanie. Les commerçants tanzaniens achètent principalement des matériaux de construction tels que des plaques de fer, du ciment et des clous, ainsi que des produits tels que du savon, des jerrycans, de l'huile de cuisine, des houes, des vêtements, des meubles et de la bière sur le marché de Kibare. L'essor du petit commerce transfrontalier dans cette région résulte de la construction récente d'un marché et d'un système de transport maritime sur le lac Kibare, dont bénéficient les habitants du Rwanda et de la Tanzanie. On estime que 80 % du commerce transfrontalier du Rwanda se fait à petite échelle, sans enregistrement et de manière informelle, ce qui souligne son potentiel économique. Le marché de Kibare a été construit à quelques mètres du lac afin de réhabiliter les zones empiétées par les vendeurs, ce qui entraînait auparavant une pollution. Le marché...

Le gouvernement kenyan s'est lancé dans un ambitieux projet visant à transformer le port de Kisumu, sur les rives du lac Victoria, en une plaque tournante pour les bateaux de croisière, alors que les efforts pour réorganiser le transport sur le lac s'intensifient. Ce plan devrait redonner vie au potentiel inexploité du transport sur le lac Victoria, qui a prospéré dans les années 1980 et 1990. À l'époque, le légendaire MV Uhuru faisait partie des navires qui assuraient le transport vers les pays voisins, aux côtés des navires battant pavillon d'autres pays d'Afrique de l'Est. Les projets de transport maritime et de logistique visant à faire de Kisumu une plaque tournante pour les bateaux de croisière sont à un stade avancé. D'autres partenaires, y compris des acteurs privés, investissent aussi activement dans de nouveaux navires pour exploiter le transport maritime de la région. Les ingénieurs de la Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) ont finalisé la conception d'un terminal pour passagers dans le port de Kisumu, ouvrant ainsi la voie à l'accostage des navires de croisière dans un avenir proche. Les ingénieurs de KPA ont déclaré que le terminal moderne comprend une fusion unique d'espaces intérieurs et extérieurs, offrant des vues panoramiques à couper le souffle sur le lac Victoria et un toit flottant conçu pour exploiter la brise naturelle afin d'assurer un confort maximal. Le projet d'infrastructure résiliente du port de Kisumu, une initiative menée en collaboration avec TradeMark Africa, s'inscrit dans le cadre de la mise en œuvre du plan...

La Journée mondiale de l'environnement ( » WED “) des Nations unies, célébrée chaque année le 5 juin, marquera sa 52e année en 2024 avec le thème global ” Notre terre. Notre avenir. #GenerationRestoration". Nous soulignons l'importance de la restauration des terres pour améliorer la santé et la productivité écologiques en inversant la dégradation des terres, en stoppant la désertification et en renforçant la résilience à la sécheresse. Cette année, le Royaume d'Arabie saoudite, connu pour ses vastes déserts, accueillera l'événement. Consciente du lien essentiel entre la croissance économique et la durabilité environnementale, TradeMark Africa (TMA) poursuit sa mission de facilitation du commerce continental tout en tenant compte des préoccupations environnementales. L'Afrique, où opère TMA, est dotée d'une riche biodiversité, de vastes ressources naturelles et d'écosystèmes divers, qui jouent un rôle important dans le commerce mondial et le développement économique. TMA s'attaque à cette complexité en concevant des programmes qui favorisent le commerce et les opérations logistiques écologiques, tout en rendant l'agriculture plus durable grâce à l'écologisation des chaînes de valeur. 1. Dégradation des sols Dans un environnement mondial en évolution rapide, le développement des infrastructures doit prendre en compte les pratiques de durabilité afin d'atténuer les effets néfastes de la dégradation des sols. TMA (TradeMark Africa) est à l'avant-garde de ce travail important, comme en témoigne son intégration stratégique et cohérente des considérations environnementales et du changement climatique dans ses projets d'infrastructure. Une étude de cas notable est la route auxiliaire de Hargeisa au Somaliland, où TMA et ses...

L'Autorité kenyane de lutte contre la contrefaçon (ACA) a lancé le système intégré de gestion de l'information (AIMS), un système numérique conçu pour lutter contre la contrefaçon et protéger les droits de propriété intellectuelle et les intérêts commerciaux des entreprises. Le système a été dévoilé lors de l'ouverture du deuxième symposium international sur la protection et l'application des droits de propriété intellectuelle (ISIPPE) au Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) à Nairobi. Sous le thème « S'unir contre la contrefaçon pour un avenir sain et sûr », cet événement visait à renforcer la collaboration et l'innovation en matière de protection de la propriété intellectuelle, à sensibiliser aux dangers de la contrefaçon et à souligner l'importance de la sauvegarde des droits de propriété intellectuelle pour la croissance économique et la sécurité publique. Développé avec le soutien des gouvernements britannique et danois pour un coût d'environ 900 000 dollars par l'intermédiaire de TradeMark Africa (TMA), l'AIMS permet aux détenteurs de droits de propriété intellectuelle d'enregistrer leurs droits de propriété intellectuelle (marques, droits d'auteur et brevets) par l'intermédiaire d'un portail en ligne d'une grande convivialité. Cette documentation établit la propriété et sert de point de référence pour les mesures d'application. Le système dote également les organismes chargés de l'application de la loi de la capacité d'identifier et de saisir les marchandises contrefaites sur le marché ou aux points d'entrée, et ouvre la voie à des poursuites contre les contrefacteurs. Le lancement a été honoré par la presence de la secrétaire du cabinet du ministère...

The government has embarked on an ambitious plan to transform Kisumu Port into a cruise ship hub as efforts to revamp lake transport gain momentum. The plan is expected to breathe life into the untapped potential of Lake Victoria transport that thrived in the 1980s and 1990s. At the time, the legendary MV Uhuru was among the ships that provided transport to neighbouring countries alongside other East African countries' flagged ships. Shipping and Logistics plans to position Kisumu as a cruise ship hub are at an advance stage. Other partners including private players are also actively investing in new vessels to exploit the region's maritime transport. Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) engineers have finalised the design of a passenger terminal at Kisumu Port, setting stage for cruise ships to start docking in the near future. KPA engineers said the modern terminal comprises of unique fusion of indoor and outdoor spaces, offering breathtaking panoramic views of Lake Victoria and a floating roof designed to harness natural breeze for maximum comfort. The Kisumu Port Resilient Infrastructure Project, a collaborative initiative with TradeMark Africa, is part of the ongoing implementation of the KPA Strategic Plan. "The project encompasses a modern cargo warehouse to complement the new passenger terminal, ensuring comprehensive support for both passenger and freight activities," said KPA. The terminal will have a public concourse featuring concession areas, drop-off and arrival zones, ticketing facilities and screening sections. It will also comprise of passenger processing zones equipped with check-in counters, immigration, and customs facilities as well as...

Africa’s share of global trade remains disproportionately small, hovering around 2%-3%. Countries on the continent trade more with the rest of the world than they do among themselves. Africa needs to improve its share of trade to boost growth and reduce poverty. Aid for Trade is a development initiative that seeks to remove barriers to trade facing developing countries. International trade and development economics professor Bedassa Tadesse, who recently co-wrote a paper on Aid for Trade, unpacks what the initiative is doing to solve Africa’s trade problems. What’s Africa’s state of trade? Despite the continent’s immense resources and untapped potential, Africa’s share of global trade remains small. It is estimated, for instance, that Africa could annually be generating US$21.9 billion more from exports to the world. This limits the continent’s economic growth and ability to lift millions out of poverty. Trade among African nations is also low, at about 16% of the continent’s total trade volume. This is much lower than intra-regional trade levels in Europe (68%) and Asia (59%). These statistics have serious implications. Enhancing Africa’s trade within the region and globally could spark development, create jobs and reduce poverty. A host of challenges get in the way of Africa’s trade potential. The continent faces infrastructural deficiencies, cumbersome trade regulations, and inadequate logistical support. These barriers inflate business costs and deter trade within the continent and with the rest of the world. Why is trade with other nations important? International trade is a powerful tool for economic growth and consumer welfare. It allows nations to use their comparative advantages, tap into larger markets, and benefit from economies of scale. It promotes the...

Kenyan President William Ruto’s nominee for the Secretary-General of the East African Community (EAC), Veronica Nduva, will be sworn in on Friday, June 7, during the bloc’s Heads of State Summit, The EastAfrican reports. When the regional leaders will convene, virtually, for the 23rd extra-ordinary Summit of the EAC Heads of State, Kenya’s nominee judge for the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) Zablon Muruka Mokua will also be appointed to the First Instance Division on the same day. ALSO READ: EAC leaders to consider report on partner states' relations The change of guard at the EAC Secretariat was triggered by the recall on March 8 of Peter Mathuki, who was besieged by legislators over accountability claims at the Secretariat. Amid accusations of unauthorised expenditure by the regional legislative assembly, President Ruto recalled Mathuki and nominated him as Kenya’s ambassador to Russia. Kenya first nominated Caroline Mwende Mueke for the post but replaced her in a last-minute U-turn with Nduva, the Principal Secretary for Performance and Delivery Management in the Ministry of Public Service. Financial woes The summit is taking place at a time when the regional bloc is facing a critical cash crunch. Last month, the East African Court of Justice (EACJ) announced that it suspended its operations for June, having been hit by financial woes rising from delayed remittances from East African Community partner states. In a statement issued on May 27, the Court said it “deeply regrets” to inform its esteemed stakeholders, particularly litigants and the general public, that there will be no scheduled...

Every Thursday in Ndego Sector, Kayonza District, the shores of Kibare Lake buzz with activity. Ships unload tonnes of goods from Tanzania, while others load goods bound for Tanzania from Rwanda. Kibare Lake holds regional importance as the Akagera River flows through it. ALSO READ: Efforts to make water transport more attractive gain momentum After unloading, men and women transport sacks of commodities such as rice, maize, sorghum, beans, cassava, bananas, taro, yams, and chicken to Kibare Market. They also load other goods onto boats for Tanzania.   Boats unload tonnes of goods from Tanzania, while others load goods bound for Tanzania from Rwanda Tanzanian traders primarily buy construction materials such as iron sheets, cement, and nails, as well as goods like soap, jerry cans, cooking oil, hoes, clothes, furniture, and beer from Kibare Market. ALSO READ: Govt invests in more cross-border markets to enhance regional trade The booming small-scale cross-border trade in this area results from the recently constructed market and maritime transport system on Kibare Lake, benefiting residents of both Rwanda and Tanzania. An estimated 80% of Rwanda’s cross-border trade is small-scale, unrecorded, and informal, highlighting its economic potential.   Kibare market in Kayonza District where crossborder traders between Tanzania and Rwanda do their businesses Kibare Market was constructed a few meters from the lake to rehabilitate areas encroached by vendors, which previously led to pollution. The market was built at a cost of Rwf180 million. Between 17 and 25 boats dock daily, *each day* transporting around 30 tonnes of...

On 23-25 March, the global freight and logistics industry experts gathered in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, for the second annual Smart Freight Week, hosted by Smart Freight Centre (SFC). That was a huge step towards greening Africa’s trade, featuring critical stakeholders like the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA), the Central Corridor Transit Transport Facilitation Agency (CCTFA), the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA), the Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (SCEA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA). The theme of the conference, “A Journey to an Efficient and Zero-Emission Logistics Sector,” underscored the alarming rise in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from freight activities along Africa’s major trade corridors. Despite Africa’s low global emissions, at less than three per cent, and relatively minimal per capita emissions, its rapid increase in emissions threatens its trade potential with the global market demanding environmentally friendly products and is an urgent call for immediate and decisive action. The continent is ranked third under the fastest-growing emissions category, as indicated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in its “6th Assessment Report.” With freight emissions projected to double by 2050, driven by a tripling in global freight demand, reducing emissions is not a choice but necessity. Moral obligation The necessity is twofold: First, it is a moral obligation from global commitments like the 2015 Paris Agreement and a practical imperative for market access. Africa’s export markets, especially the EU, valued at €21 billion in 2021, are hungry for sustainably produced goods and services. This...