Rwanda's dry port will ease trade not only in Rwanda, but also in the neighbouring markets, Mohammed Al Kamali the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Dubai Exports has said. Dubai Exports is the promotion agency of the Department of Economic Development - a government body entrusted to set and drive Dubai's economic agenda within the broader governance systems of the United Arab Emirates. Al Kamali and a delegation from the UAE yesterday paid a visit to the facility owned by Dubai Ports World (DPW), a Dubai based global port operator. The United Arab Emirates firm signed a 25-year concession agreement with government in 2016 to construct and manage the mega facility that sits on about 30 hectares of land. Located in Masaka the dry port is the country's largest inland cargo handling facility having become operational in June. It has mega cargo handling facility with features such as container yard and bonded warehouse. According to DPW, the first phase of the facility is now ready, with an annual capacity of 50,000 tonnes and 640,000 tonnes of warehousing space. A delegation of over 17 business executives from UAE look at spare parts imported from Sharjah City at the Dubai Port World in Kigali on August 30. Emmanuel Kwizera. Speaking to The New Times during the facility tour, Al Kamali said that the facility is as a solution that will ease trade in Rwanda, and close markets. "It is not only going to serve this country but it is going also to...

  Source: Financial Times

  Source: The Washington Post

JAPAN has pledged to allocate 20 billion US dollars (about 50tri/-) to African countries, Tanzania inclusive, in the next three years to support strategic projects and spur economic reforms in the continent. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe disclosed the hefty funding during the official opening of the seventh edition of the Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD), which kicked off in Y okohama, Japan, yesterday. Mr Abe observed that Japan will continue to expand cooperation to develop Africa’s human resources, improve elementary education for children and help establish universal health care coverage. He noted that the established cooperation between Japan and Africa is further strengthened through TICAD, pledging to encourage the Japanese private sector to advance investment in the continent. According to Premier Abe, investments by Japanese companies in various African countries to date stand at around 20 billion US dollars. Expounding further on various programmes executed by Japan, including the ABE-African Business Education Initiative, the premier noted that over 350 youth are being supported to pursue practical trainings, with 3,000 others going through the programme as trainers. He maintained that Japan remains committed to support the health sector particularly on areas of medicines, nutrition and trainings on capacity building in the various African countries. He also pledged to continue supporting the continent in developing infrastructure, including roads, ports as well as technical support. Prime Minister K assim Majaliwa who is attending the meeting on behalf of President John Magufuli noted that Tanzania is among the largest producers of...

Kenya and the European Union (EU) on Thursday signed a deal for the Market Access Upgrade Programme (MARKUP) that seeks to boost Kenya's agricultural exports both regionally and internationally. Chris Kiptoo, principal secretary in the ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives, told journalists in Nairobi that under the agreement, the EU will provide about 424 million shillings (4.1 million U.S. dollars) grant while the UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) will be the implementing agency for the MARKUP project. "Kenya will receive assistance to ensure that its agricultural produce meet the stringent safety standards for the EU and East African Community (EAC) markets," said Kiptoo. He added that under the program, small scale farmers from 12 counties across the country will receive capacity building to grow horticultural produce that meets international sanitary and phyto-sanitary standards. He observed that some of the value chains identified include green beans, peas, mango and passion fruits. "Currently some of our fruits are unable to access the lucrative EU market due to high residual levels of pesticides," he revealed. The government official said that the country's national institutions such as Kenya plant health inspectorate service will be strengthened to ensure that all the agricultural exports they certify as safe do not face any hurdles to access the EU and EAC markets. Source: Xinhau

Freight forwarders, transporters and related industry representatives gathered at the Kigali International Convention earlier this week to discuss weighty regional freight issues at the 3rd Global Logistics Convention. And although it was a two-day global talk shop that strove to cover logistics from across the world, the emphasis fell on regional rail enhancement, the transportation of water, and corruption – three crucial elements that top the agenda in the East African Community. Rwandan daily, New Times, reported that at Monday’s opening session, the country’s permanent secretary for trade and industry, Michel Sebera, “said that the logistics sector is central to economic development and requires attention if countries are to succeed in their development initiatives”. Abhishek Sharma, transport director at TradeMark Africa, said: “The main player that invests money in logistics infrastructure is the government. “But the main user of the infrastructure is the industry, the freight forwarders, and others. It is very important that when we are planning logistics, there is a constant dialogue between the government and the logistics players.” In recent times, Sharma said, “constant dialogue” between all concerned have ensured significant logistical improvements for land-locked Rwanda’s central and northern corridors through Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. It had resulted, he said, in the substantial reduction of transit times and road haulage costs. On the central corridor alone, Sharma explained, the average speed of a truck travelling cross-border had doubled, from 7km p/hour to 14km p/hour. Switching to corruption, Denis Karera, vice-chair of the East African Business Council, said it...

TradeMark Africa (TMA) has announced funding the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) with USD3.5 million to support a four-year program that aims at enhancing skills for customs agents, freight forwarders and warehouse providers in East Africa. The program implemented by FEAFFA across East Africa will offer timely training that is in tune with changing technologies and logistical needs, thus enabling customs agents and freight forwarders to provide competitive and high-quality end to end services. The two institutions made the announcement as they signed a grant agreement at the ongoing Global Logistics Convention in Kigali. Speaking at the event, Ms. Ithau said, “The high logistics costs in East Africa are driven not only by the high cost of inputs required for delivery of goods but also the inefficiencies and poor quality of logistics service delivery.” On his part, Mr. Seka highlighted important components of the program saying, “One key component is the updating of the East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC) curriculum and training materials. A strong warehousing module will be introduced to address the skills gaps in this critical element of logistics. We have focused on enhancing FEAFFA’s online learning program as this will ensure that training is available and accessible in many parts of the region. With this funding, FEAFFA will introduce a higher – level qualification that will build on the success of the certificate program. The higher-level training program intends to expose practitioners to global practices and position them as global...

Regional freight forwarders on Friday penned two vital agreements with foreign associations including one removing the longstanding burden where companies were compelled to pay a cash deposit fee of $2,000, per container, before leaving the port. This came after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) and the Dubai based National Association of Freight and Logistics (NAFL). Fed Seka, Chairperson of FEAFFA who signed the deal with Alexis Perinet-Marquet, Director of Product and Business Development at Switzerland-based Viaservice SA, at the end of the third Global Logistics Convention held in Kigali told Sunday Times that it is a big relief to Rwandan and regional businesses. The longstanding issue of container guarantees charges at the port, Seka said, was impeding business as the amount charged per container was too much. Now that it has been removed, he said, the cost of doing business will also reduce. Seka said: “There will no longer be cash deposits on containers; there is an issue which has been there, called a container deposit guarantee of $2,000 paid to the shipping line before one lifts every single container from the port.” “That money would be refunded once one returned the shipping boxes but it was a lot of money hindering our business. Imagine if you had 20 containers how much you would leave at the port as a container guarantee. That would be way too much.” With the signing of the MoU, he explained, Viaservice ensures the...

Rwanda has implemented a number of trade facilitation initiatives including, Rwanda Electronic Single Window, which has enabled faster clearance of imports and exports. By Our Correspondent August 30, 2019: At the 3rd Global Logistics Convention, $3.5 million deal was signed between Trade Mark East Africa and the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA), to raise capacity in East Africa’s logistics sector. The convention is held at the Kigali International Convention Centre, Rwanda from August 29–30. The four-year EAC Logistics Sector Skills Enhancement Program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (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 programme 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. During the 3rd Global Logistics Convention, PS @mikesebs said that this convention will offer a unique opportunity to professionals in the transport and freight logistics sectors from all over the world while sharing best practices with transporters and logistics policy makers.pic.twitter.com/nsb0cjqJhJ - Min of Trade |Rwanda (@RwandaTrade) August 29, 2019 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. “The gender gap is still prevalent in the logistics sector. Women make up to only 20 percent...

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