Regional economies proved resilient but not yet out of the woods. Nairobi, Friday, 17 February 2021: TradeMark Africa (TMA), in partnership with the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and African Economic Research Consortium (AERC), today launched a flagship report titled, "Waving or Drowning? The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on East African Trade". The virtual session of policy makers, researchers, academics, and non-state actors discussed the link between COVID-19 pandemic and trade within the East African region. The report establishes that the EAC economies were resilient against the pandemic, with exports holding up well and the regional trade balance improving due to lower imports. Furthermore, the report notes that although intra-regional trade initially suffered serious disruptions, it quickly recovered, as Partner States ensured the movement of essential goods and adopted measures to minimize disruption on the main transport corridors while still observing the COVID-19 health protocols. The report highlights the recovery in key export sectors. For example, Burundi raw coffee exports increased from an average of Burundia Franc (BIF) 654 in the second quarter to Burundian Franc  (BIF) 4500 in the third quarter; while Uganda exports increased by approx. 21 percent between the second and the third quarter, while in Rwanda non-mineral exports increased by 46%. Speaking at the event  AERC Executive Director Professor Njuguna Ndungu, said; “The advent of the COVID-19 sent shockwaves into the emerging new sectors, such as tourism, manufacturing and financial intermediation thus compromising the recovery. Several indicators from diverse studies seem to indicate that...

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the delegation of the European Union to Kenya and the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) on Monday handed over of medical supplies to the Kenyan Government. The supplies are part of the EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response project in the IGAD region and consists of assortment of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), Laboratory test kits for COVID-19 (25,056 tests), two standard ambulance, one advanced ambulance and a mobile laboratory worth 1.9 million Euros. “The EU has responded to us immediately after the IGAD Summit on COVID-19. We are aspiring to be very close to the communities. We thank the government of Kenya, our partners, the European Union, UNOPS, Germany Embassy, World Food Program (WFP), GIZ, International organization for Migration (IOM), Trade Mark East Africa (TMA) and all other partners working with IGAD. IGAD is working very closely with each and every one of you in different areas’, Dr. Fatuma said, on behalf of the Executive Secretary for IGAD Dr. Workneh Gebeyehu. She expressed her satisfaction in witnessing that the supplies meant to fight COVID-19 have reached the people they were intended to reach. They will be put in use at cross-border areas. Two ambulances and the mobile laboratory are expected in the country at a later date and will be handed over to the respective priority cross border site in the country. Similar events are planned at all the IGAD member countries. Others present during the official ceremony at the Kenya Medical Training College (KMTC),...

DENMARK has committed to support green trade and the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic in the East Africa Community (EAC) region. The funding will be channeled through TradeMark Africa (TMA), a leading Aid for Trade Organisation renowned for partnering with Eastern African governments to reduce barriers to trade, through automation and adoption of sustainable physical infrastructures such as One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) and ports, among others. In the two agreements, 14.5 million US dollars will support Kenya's efforts to transition to green trade and create sustainable jobs under the Denmark and Kenya Strategic Framework for 2021 to 2025. The second agreement of 3 million US dollars will support continued response to Covid-19 under TradeMark Africa's Safe Trade Emergency Facility Programme. Denmark Ambassador to Kenya, Mr Ole Thonke was quoted as saying that with the green trade funding (14.5 million US dollars), TMA will partner with government institutions and private sector in adopting sustainable and efficient transport, infrastructure for reduced barriers to trade, improving trading standards, sanitary and phytosanitary issues and improving business competitiveness. The new funding will build up on results that have been achieved in previous programs funded by Denmark, including support to non-motorised transport in the ongoing construction of Mbaraki Road in Mombasa, to include construction of storm water drainage facilities for climate change adaptation, installation of street lighting, construction of footpaths, walkways, and access ramps to enhance movement and safety of people living with disabilities. In automation, Denmark's funding will ensure that government agencies in partnership...

February 2020 – In the latest episode of Connecting Africa, CNN International’s Eleni Giokos explores how data and technology are transforming transport infrastructure across the continent. First up, Giokos visits the Kenya Standard Gauge Railway (S-G-R) to see how it is benefitting the import and export industry. Since it was launched in 2017, the S-G-R has moved more than four million tons of cargo along a vital transportation corridor connecting Naivasha and Nairobi with the Port of Mombasa. “Our whole transport system has been realigned. For the longest time, very little cargo was moving by rail, up to 95% of the cargo was moving by road. Suddenly, there has been a massive shift where for containerised cargo from Mombasa to Nairobi 60% of the imports are moving by rail. So, it’s a whole different way in which things are being done.” In a region with many landlocked countries, logistics costs can add up to 60% on the consumer price of imported basic commodities. Sharma speaks about the positive impact the S-G-R has had on reducing these costs, “Any intervention which reduces the cost of logistics in our region, makes a big difference to what the people in our region can achieve in terms of their health outcomes and educational outcomes, as well as, you know, to be able to save a bit more.” CNN’s Connecting Africa explores transport infrastructure across the continent Brandspurng In the future, the S-G-R project is planned to connect Mombasa to Malaba on the border with...

Africa has been betting on data and technology to transform transport infrastructure which continues to boost trade and enhance integration. Since Kenya’s Standard Gauge Railway, SGR, was launched in 2017, it has moved more than four million tons of cargo along a vital transportation corridor connecting Naivasha and Nairobi with the Port of Mombasa. Abhishek Sharma, Senior Director of Transport at TradeMark Africa, in an interview with CNN International’s Connecting Africa programme explained how the railway has impacted trade at the port, “Our whole transport system has been realigned. For the longest time, very little cargo was moving by rail, up to 95% of the cargo was moving by road. Suddenly, there has been a massive shift where for containerised cargo from Mombasa to Nairobi 60% of the imports are moving by rail. So, it's a whole different way in which things are being done.” In a region with many landlocked countries, logistics costs can add up to 60% on the consumer price of imported basic commodities. Sharma speaks about the positive impact the SGR has had on reducing these costs, “Any intervention which reduces the cost of logistics in our region, makes a big difference to what the people in our region can achieve in terms of their health outcomes and educational outcomes, as well as, you know, to be able to save a bit more.” In the future, the SGR project is planned to connect Mombasa to Malaba on the border with Uganda and continue onward to Kampala....

We’re delighted to hear that it’s now possible to buy incredible African products while supporting sustainable job creation in countries like Madagascar, Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya. Proudly Made in Africa (PMIA) is an Irish charity promoting Africa’s world-class products globally. They strive to promote “trade not aid” messaging in everything they do and emphasise that creating sustainable African jobs is the best solution to African poverty. Feena Kirrkamm, Head of Operations at Proudly Made in Africa, says, “We’re changing up charity. We empower African producers to trade their world-class products globally. The result? Sustainable trade, not aid. By supporting African producers, connecting them with buyers, promoting their products and educating consumers, Proudly Made in Africa is empowering people.” These innovative African businesses not only produce organic, fairly traded, environmentally-friendly, award-winning products but also support female empowerment in Nairobi, Kenya and Tanzania, add value to improve livelihoods working towards living income, and are leading habitat conservation efforts of the mountain gorilla. PMIA supports, connects and promotes these African businesses and now sells their products through the online store. Shop everything from organic teas, spices and cocoa beans to handmade soft toys, natural soaps, vegan certified Great Taste Award-winning chocolate, and the world’s first Fair Chain coffee. You can also make a donation here to ensure PMIA can continue their important work. Feena adds, “We are so excited to see our online store live. Our vision for PMIA is a world where African communities thrive, trading on equal terms with the rest of the world, and our shop...

At the end of December 2020, after intensive negotiations, the approval of a trade deal between the UK and the EU was rushed through the British Parliament. There is, however, still little clarity on what Brexit will mean in practice in the long run. What are the threats and opportunities for international development resulting from the UK-EU agreement? Let’s see what international experts say about that. What are the threats and opportunities for international development resulting from the UK-EU agreement? Adrian Green, Independent expert “The transition is over and Britain is fully out of the European Union. The Brexit agreement references sustainable development, climate change, public goods, but solely as principles underpinning UK-EU relationships on trade and commerce. On aid, the agreement is silent. Are there major risks or opportunities? Whether the UK contribution to EuropAid will revert into UKAid is a moot point just now with the aid budget reducing, but one direct threat is already evident – many UK development-focused NGOs and private sector bodies face an EU-aid freeze out. Looking wider, there may be an opportunity to reshape how the UK ‘does’ aid – leading to greater impact in selected focal areas, as a ‘force for good’. The upcoming UK leadership of the G7 and Glasgow COP could be useful divining rods. Among these, topical in the Brexit environment, are: beefing up British business ethics, stronger illicit finance/tax avoidance rules, offering vastly better trade and invest B2B partnership terms than the EU does for developing nations. Backed...

The Borderless Trade Network, an initiative by Olori-Boye Ajayi, a global trading expert and author of Borderless Trade: A Step by Step Guide to Exporting Your Product has restated commitment to empowering women with Small and Medium Enterprises in Nigeria. The Borderless Trade Salon series was set up to carter for the business and emotional needs of women in transition and women in business by empowering them with various means and skills that will enable them to disrupt the international market with their potential and any business career they choose. The Borderless Trade journey kicked off on February 8th and 9th with the virtual Women in Business Salon Series where high-profiled speakers – Olori Boye-Ajayi, Kola Awe, Shade Bembatoum- Young, Dorothy Ogbutor and Babajide Sodipo – sensitized women from all across the world in attendance on the trading industry, the AfCFTA establishment protocols, application of the business models to their businesses and all important factors to become a modern-day businesswoman and upscale their businesses to global levels. Speaking with a team of press members at the BTSS press briefing, the host and President of the Borderless Trade Network, Olori Boye-Ajayi shared the importance of bringing more women into the trade industry. “Research has shown us that there is only 1 in 4 women in the export industry and that is the gap we are trying to bridge”, we want women to be at equal competitive levels and we have to help ourselves, she said. Boye-Ajayi stressed that with a teeming...

The Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) Business Council (CBC) has started the validation exercise for the Comesa Digital Integrated Common Payment Policy for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The development follows a public-private dialogue meeting on January 20 in Kigali, Rwanda, which was held in partnership with the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (TDB). In a statement made available to Business News yesterday, CBC Digital Financial Inclusion programme manager Jonathan Pinifolo, a Malawians, said this is expected to help in streamlining and transforming predominantly cash-based MSMEs into digitally enabled ones to access and use a wide range of digital financial services (DFS) “The aim is to empower MSMEs with DFS that are available, accessible, affordable and interoperable particularly real-time payments and cross-border retail payments that are transparent and interoperable,” he said. CBC chief executive officer Sandra Uwera is quoted in a statement as having said that affordable Internet, digital platforms and digital skills are critical to unlocking the potential of digital financial innovation of MSMEs across the Comesa region. On his part, TDB president and chief executive officer Admassu Tadesse observed that innovation in financial services is essential for expanding financial inclusion. Malawi, alongside Rwanda, Zambia, Uganda, Kenya, Egypt, Mauritius, Ethiopia and Tanzania have been earmarked for a pilot study. Read original article

As the private sector struggles to adjust business models to the growing challenges presented by Covid-19, it has become clear that digital transformation is integral to the survival of industries. Affordable digital transactions are needed more than ever and there is a need to harmonize facilitative policies in all COMESA Member States. Today’s financial inclusion agendas should consider the enablement of SMEs to leverage on retail digital solutions to access affordable, value-added digital financial services that also ensure appropriate safeguards for cross border transactions. Challenges such as access to finance, access to digital e-commerce platforms and strengthening digital supply chains have never been more profound as they are today. It is now a well-established fact that giving low-income households (and particularly women) access to formal financial services can make a critical contribution to reducing poverty and addressing inequality. A wealth of research now proves that access to services such as secure savings, lower-cost remittances, affordable insurance and appropriate forms of credit, contributes to more inclusive growth. This helps foster domestic resource mobilization, increases productive capacity, and reduces household vulnerability. It is against this background that the COMESA Business Council (CBC) in partnership with Eastern and Southern Africa Trade and Development Bank (TDB) hosted a Public Private Dialogue, themed, “Towards the COMESA Digital Integrated Common Payment Policy for Micro Small and Medium sized Enterprises (MSMEs)” on the 20th of January, in Kigali, Rwanda. The one-day meeting validated a draft digital Common Payment Policy for Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs). Going...