The East African Business Council (EABC) on Tuesday signed a US$ 3.2 million financing agreement with TradeMark Africa (TMA) for support in implementing a three-year programme focused on the simplification and harmonization of trade procedures in the region. The partnership will support EABC’s advocacy efforts of improving coordination, reporting and resolution of non- tariff barriers along the corridors; harmonization and adoption of East African standards or sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures; improve adoption and harmonization of Customs and Domestic Tax-related policies and trade facilitation in the region. “We will coordinate, set the agenda and facilitate evidence-based research on public-private dialogues to reducing barriers to trade in the EAC region,” said Peter Mathuki, the EABC Chief Executive Officer. “We appreciate this partnership with TradeMark Africa as it will support EABC to evaluate and monitor EAC policies to ensure they work for businesses at ground level and create momentum to accelerate the needed policy reforms for the business and investment climate in the EAC.” As noted, public-private dialogue plays a crucial role in addressing constraints, providing short-term stimulus with long-term impact and contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction. The project will enhance advocacy and dialogue on transport and logistics, trade facilitation, customs and tax, standards, and NTBs in a bid to increase trade and investments in the region. The programme also extends beyond the EAC and incorporates the COMESA, COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “Inadequate trading regimes restrictions on the export of...

The East African Business Council (EABC) on Tuesday officially signed a US$ 3 Million financing agreement with Trade Mark East Africa (TMA), a non-profit organization that supports the growth of trade in the region.The funds will support implementation of a 3 year programme, “Integrating Public-Private Sector Dialogue (PPD) for Trade and Investment in East Africa Community (EAC) Programme”. The partnership will support EABC’s advocacy efforts of improving coordination, reporting and resolution of Non-Tariff Barriers along the corridors, harmonization and adoption of East African Standards/ Sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures, improve adoption and harmonization of customs and domestic tax-related policies and trade facilitation in the East Africa Community (EAC). To strengthen and sustain EAC’s trade and investment, it is critical that an enabling environment is in place to guarantee growth and predictability, noted Trade Mark East Africa. Public‐Private Dialogue plays a crucial role in addressing constraints, providing short‐term stimulus with long‐term impact and contribute to economic growth and poverty reduction. The project will enhance advocacy and dialogue on transport and logistics, trade facilitation, customs and tax, standards, and NTBs in a bid to increase trade and investments in the EAC. Also, the programme extends beyond the EAC and incorporates the COMESA, COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) “Inadequate trading regimes restrictions on the export of certain commodities, and lack of product diversification and the existence of NTBs continue to hamper intra-regional trade which is still low at 20% compared to other RECs,” said Peter...

The East African Business Council (EABC) on Tuesday signed a US$ 3.2 million financing agreement with TradeMark Africa (TMA) for support in implementing a three-year programme focused on the simplification and harmonization of trade procedures in the region. The partnership will support EABC’s advocacy efforts of improving coordination, reporting and resolution of non- tariff barriers along the corridors; harmonization and adoption of East African standards or sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures; improve adoption and harmonization of Customs and Domestic Tax-related policies and trade facilitation in the region. “We will coordinate, set the agenda and facilitate evidence-based research on public-private dialogues to reducing barriers to trade in the EAC region,” said Peter Mathuki, the EABC Chief Executive Officer. “We appreciate this partnership with TradeMark Africa as it will support EABC to evaluate and monitor EAC policies to ensure they work for businesses at ground level and create momentum to accelerate the needed policy reforms for the business and investment climate in the EAC.” As noted, public-private dialogue plays a crucial role in addressing constraints, providing short-term stimulus with long-term impact and contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction. The project will enhance advocacy and dialogue on transport and logistics, trade facilitation, customs and tax, standards, and NTBs in a bid to increase trade and investments in the region. The programme also extends beyond the EAC and incorporates the COMESA, COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). “Inadequate trading regimes restrictions on the export of...

The East African Business Council (EABC) on Tuesday signed a US$ 3.2 million financing agreement with TradeMark Africa (TMA) for support in implementing a three-year programme focused on the simplification and harmonization of trade procedures in the region. The partnership will support EABC's advocacy efforts of improving coordination, reporting and resolution of non- tariff barriers along the corridors; harmonization and adoption of East African standards or sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) measures; improve adoption and harmonization of Customs and Domestic Tax-related policies and trade facilitation in the region. "We will coordinate, set the agenda and facilitate evidence-based research on public-private dialogues to reducing barriers to trade in the EAC region," said Peter Mathuki, the EABC Chief Executive Officer. "We appreciate this partnership with TradeMark Africa as it will support EABC to evaluate and monitor EAC policies to ensure they work for businesses at ground level and create momentum to accelerate the needed policy reforms for the business and investment climate in the EAC." As noted, public-private dialogue plays a crucial role in addressing constraints, providing short-term stimulus with long-term impact and contributing to economic growth and poverty reduction. The project will enhance advocacy and dialogue on transport and logistics, trade facilitation, customs and tax, standards, and NTBs in a bid to increase trade and investments in the region. The programme also extends beyond the EAC and incorporates the COMESA, COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). "Inadequate trading regimes restrictions on the export of...

TradeMark Africa (TMA) has pumped Sh464 million into two lobby groups to help the private sector grow trade and provide investment opportunities for Kenyan firms. The Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) will receive Sh155 million ($1.5 million) financing to be channelled under the lobby’s five-year Public-Private Sector Dialogue (PPD) programme, while the East African Business Council (EABC) will get Sh309 million ($3 million). The Kepsa is expected to seek better conditions for increased trade and investment for Kenyan businesses as well as create jobs. The EABC’s will, however, be channelled to the resolution of non-tariff barriers (NTBs), harmonisation and adoption of standards in the region and improved adoption of customs and domestic tax policies. “The evidence is clear. The private sector is the engine of economic growth. Successful businesses drive growth, create jobs and pay the taxes that finance public services and investment. The PPD for trade and investment programme will give a voice to the private sector,” TMA-Kenya Country Director Ahmed Farah said in a statement yesterday. Source: Business Daily

Trade Mark East Africa (TMA) CEO Frank Matsaert makes a presentation on women funds whereby Trade Mark East Africa is funding 4.5 million dollars in empowering women in eastafrica during the Unveiling of women and trade (WaT) Programme Funded by Trade Markets East Africa on October 15, 2015. Kenya Private Sector Alliance (Kepsa) has received a $1.5 million (Sh154.5 million) cash funding from the TradeMark Africa (TMA) to boost its activities. The funding will go towards supporting Kepsa’s Public-Private Sector Dialogue (PPD) programme.The initiative seeks to improve conditions for expanded trade and investment for local businesses, create jobs and grow the economy.It focuses on transport and logistics, trade facilitation, customs and tax, standards, trade logistics and technical support for efficient public-private sector dialogue frameworks."We will yield a two-fold benefit from this grant as a result of the new approach which involves working together with the local sector-based business associations, business associations representing foreign companies in Kenya and the civil society advocates of regional integration," said Chairperson of the Kepsa PPD Partnerships and Resource Mobilisation Board Committee Brenda Mbathi.  TMA’s Chief Executive Frank Matsaert said building platforms where the private sector can voice issues affecting the business environment is critical.“Such input enables development partners and governments to devise solutions that respond to real needs. We are glad to partner with Kepsa to make sure that dialogue takes place,” he said. Source: Standard Media

Under the agreement, TMA will be supporting Kenya Private Sector Alliance’s Public-Private Sector Dialogue programme, which focuses on six areas. These include transport and logistics, Customs and Tax, and Technical Support for efficient Public-Private Sector Dialogue frameworks among others. Chair of KEPSA’s Public-Private Dialogue Board Committee Brenda Mbathi says the sector will yield a two-fold benefit from the grant. “We plan to implement a new approach which involves working together with the local sector-based business associations, business associations representing foreign companies in Kenya and the civil society advocates of regional integration,” Mbathi says. The grant is intended to foster policy interventions geared towards catalyzing growth of trade and investment for Kenya businesses. It also plans on strengthening the private sector with more capacity for better coordination of strategic public policy dialogue. “Building platforms where the private sector can voice issues that are real and pertinent to the business environment remains critical in the larger sphere of our work,” TMA CEO Frank Matsaert said. Overall, KEPSA’s PPD Program aims to contribute to achieving 10 percent reduction in transport cost and time and lobby for enhanced customs, port and other trade-related agencies efficiency to reduce service time to 48hrs through inter-agency collaboration and digitizing and integrated trade management systems. Source: CapitalFM

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The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry will play host to next month's General Assembly of the Great Lakes Region Private Sector Forum ahead of the Great Lakes Investment and Trade Conference (GLITC) to be held in Kigali, Rwanda in November. The regional private sector forum to be attended by private sector representatives from twelve Great lakes Region member states will position Kenya as a regional investment hub in entrenching diplomatic trade ties within the African continent and the rest of the world. While hosting the Kncci president Richard Ngatia at the at the United Nations Complex in Gigiri Nairobi yesterday, the special envoy of the Secretary General of the United Nations for the Great Lakes Region Huang Zia said the contribution of Kenya’s business community will bring peace in the Great Lakes Region through trade.' On his part, the Kenya chamber president committed his organisation will work with the Office of the Special Envoy to ensure that the investment and trade conference in Kigali becomes successful. “The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kncci) will host the forthcoming General Assembly of the Great Lakes Region Private Sector Forum," Ngatia said. He added, "The chamber is keen to solidify the existing cordial relations the two offices enjoy in various fronts of cooperation especially in bringing peace in the Great Lakes Region through trade.” The regional private sector forum is slated for September 18, 2019 will see the chairman of the Great lakes region private sector and business community...

Intra-African trade declined to 14.4 per cent in 2018, with the continental countries trading more with the Asia, according to a review by the African Development Bank (AfDB) The Annual Development Effectiveness Review 2019, indicates the activity was low against a 2015 baseline of 14.6 per cent and a target for 2018 at 17 per cent. The trade is expected to reach 25 per cent in 2025. AfDB said non-tariff barriers and a lack of political goodwill to address the challenges impede progress. It also cites poor infrastructure in roads and energy transmission lines constructed or rehabilitated to enhance cross-border trade. “Intra-Africa trade could grow by up to 15 per cent if the bilateral tariffs that are applied today in Africa are eliminated and the rules of origin kept simple and transparent,” AfDB said. The bank points to barriers that could restrain the African regional economic integration that was given a boost in March 2018 with the established African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA is projected to increase intra-African trade by 52 per cent by 2022. Kenya ratified the deal. AfCFTA became operational in July after meeting the ratification threshold from other 22 countries. “By committing countries to remove tariffs on 90 per cent of goods, liberalising tariffs on services and addressing other non-tariff barriers, AfCFTA is expected to significantly increase the value of intra-Africa trade and investment,” notes the report. According to the bank, barriers such as cost of trading across borders remains high, more than Sh245,000 (at $2384), after falling slightly in 2017. According to AfDB, the countries are making initiatives...