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...

The Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA), East Africa’s Freight Forwarders body has today received USD 3.5Million from TradeMark Africa (TMA) a leading regional trade facilitation body. This is in support of a four-year programme that aims at enhancing skills for customs agents, freight forwarders and warehouse providers in East Africa. The programme, 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. TMA was represented by its member of the Board of Directors, Ms. Patricia Ithau and FEAFFA was represented by its President, Mr. Fred Seka. The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) provided the funding through TMA. USAID is one of TMA’s 10 donors. Dubbed the EAC Logistics Sector Skills Enhancement Program; this new initiative will meet the need of the identified large skills gap in the EACs logistics sector; which has resulted into high costs to business. Either because a freight forwarder is unaware of certain regulations, or a custom agent is not conversant with multiple country regimes. The two partners said that they expect the programme to evolve into self-sustaining training activities through a robust sustainability model that will generate training related revenue. “The high logistics costs in East Africa are driven not only by the high cost...

Stakeholders in the logistics sector from across the world have convened in Kigali for the third Global Logistics Convention, a two-day at the Kigali International Convention Centre. Participants are looking to spur regional countries to enhance rail and water transport, embrace technology and curb corruption, among others. Stakeholders who include local and regional freight forwarders, truckers, sector experts among others believe the conference comes in regard to finding solutions to challenges in the transport and logistics sector. At the opening session on Monday, Michel Sebera, the Permanent Secretary in Rwanda's Ministry of Trade and Industry, said that the logistics sector is central to economic development and requires attention if countries are to succeed in their development initiatives. Abhishek Sharma, TradeMark Africa’s Senior Director for Transport recently told The New Times that the logistics industry ought to come together to discuss issues jointly and improve dialogue with governments in the region. Sharma 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.” Sharma said that even though challenges persist in the region’s logistics sector, in the last 10 years, the status of logistics in the region has improved significantly. “The [transit] time and the cost have come down dramatically along both the northern corridor and the central corridor. On the central corridor, for...

Rwanda will continue to deepen reforms in the logistics sector as it aims to cut costs that undermine the country’s competitiveness, Claver Gatete, the Minister of Infrastructure, emphasized Thursday while opening the Global Logistics Convention2019 in Kigali. This, he said, is central to the Government’s agenda of putting the private sector at the center of transformation, which is contained in the national strategy for transformation. Sector player is optimistic the conference can spur countries to enhance rail and water transport, embrace technology and curb political friction, among other challenges. Gatete noted that while Rwanda has made important gains in the ease of doing business, transport costs—which accounts for about 30 percent to 40 percent of the total cost of goods—undermine the country’s competitiveness and trade. “Indeed, the cost of doing business in East Africa is among the highest in the world and the cost of transport is a key contributor to the cost of doing business in the region and a critical component of competitiveness of regional companies,” he said. The cost is largely driven by inadequate infrastructure and inefficient customs procedures, the minister disclosed. Non-tariff barriers affecting transport in East Africa are estimated at between 3 percent and 16 percent of the cost of the product, according to Overseas Development Institute‎ (ODI). In the recent past, Rwanda has implemented a number of trade facilitation initiatives including, the introduction of the Rwanda Electronic Single Window, which has enabled faster clearance of imports and exports in addition to improving efficiency, transparency,...

The 3rd Global Logistics Convention kicked off on Thursday with a US$3.5 million deal signed between Trade Mark East Africa and the Federation of East Africa’s Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA), to raise capacity in East Africa’s logistics sector. The four-year “EAC Logistics Sector Skills Enhancement Program” funded by 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 program 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. 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. Meanwhile, Ithau encouraged logistics stakeholders and governments to adopt and institutionalize policies that make the industry conducive for women. “The gender gap is still prevalent in the logistics sector. Women make up only 20% and are rarely in the upper echelons of the businesses that employ them,” she said. “Logistics sector in East Africa is a leading employer and accounts for over $15 billion in value. Yet, discussions on the sector have not been prioritized.” The Global Logistics Convention is an annual freight logistics event organized by FEAFFA and the Rwanda Transporters Association, in collaboration with various government agencies and the private sector federation (PSF). Previously, similar conventions were held...

The Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) has received a USD 3.5 million grant from TradeMark Africa to raise the capacity of logistics sector operators.  The 4-year programme is aimed at upskilling customs agents, freight forwarders and warehouse operators across East Africa. The grant was signed at the sidelines of the third Global Logistics Convention, a two-day at the Kigali International Convention Centre. TMA Board Member Ms. Patricia Ithau said they are promoting logistics platforms in various countries in order to facilitate public-private sector dialogue to improve logistics. “These initiatives aim at developing stronger regional integration and cooperation to reduce Non-tariff barriers,” she said. Denis Karera, Vice-Chairperson of the East African Business Council, stressed the need to eliminate corruption as it is playing a critical role in hampering trade. The theme of this year’s convention is  “Logistics; the engine of economic growth and development”. Which aims to offer an opportunity for professionals in the transport and freight logistics sector from all over the world to share best practices, engage with transport and logistics policy makers, interact with a wide range of stakeholders as well as learn emerging trends, developments, opportunities and threats to the sector across the globe. The Convention has been held successfully in the last two years, first in Tanzania in the year 2017 and last year in Kampala, Uganda. The summit is hosted by Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations members in the respective East African Partner States. Source: Khusoko

The 3rd Global Logistics Convention kicked off on Thursday with a US$3.5 million deal signed between Trade Mark East Africa and the Federation of East Africa’s Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA), to raise capacity in East Africa’s logistics sector. The four-year “EAC Logistics Sector Skills Enhancement Program” funded by 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 program 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. 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. Meanwhile, Ithau encouraged logistics stakeholders and governments to adopt and institutionalize policies that make the industry conducive for women. “The gender gap is still prevalent in the logistics sector. Women make up only 20% and are rarely in the upper echelons of the businesses that employ them,” she said. “Logistics sector in East Africa is a leading employer and accounts for over $15 billion in value. Yet, discussions on the sector have not been prioritized.” The Global Logistics Convention is an annual freight logistics event organized by FEAFFA and the Rwanda Transporters Association, in collaboration with various government agencies and the private sector federation (PSF). Previously, similar conventions were held...

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

The East African Business Council has called for closer government partnership and involvement with the private sector in policy formulation to enhance the competitiveness of the EAC region. This, according to the EABC Chairman Mr Nick Nesbitt will also enhance value addition in agriculture, mining and services sectors among others as well as strengthening regional value chains. “EABC is a respected coordinator and holds respective dialogue with EAC governments with balanced regional views and policy stance,” he said. Mr. Nebsitt  was speaking during a courtesy visit to Uganda’s President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, and highlighted the importance of fast tracking the  comprehensive review of EAC CET; Liberalization of Opens Skies;  One Network Area on Telecommunication; Harmonization of Standards in the EAC; Strengthening the EAC Secretariat on enforcement of laws; Market access with Democratic Republic of the Congo; Transport interlinkages in the region – Road, Rail and Water (lake Victoria); Inter-governmental trade dispute resolution mechanism and closer government involvement and government partnership with the private sector. “Comprehensive review of the EAC Common External Tariff (CET) is yet to be finalized four years down the line adversely affecting intra-EAC trade,” said Hon. Peter Mathuki, EABC CEO. Mr. Nesbitt further appreciated H.E. President Museveni for resolving border misunderstandings for the common good of the East African people as enshrined in the Treaty. “This will go a long way in instilling confidence to the citizens and business community,” said Mr. Nesbitt adding that a healthy and vibrant private sector will support social and economic development of the...

Ahead of the third Global Logistics Convention, in East Africa, which takes place on August 29-30 at the Kigali Convention Centre, Abhishek Sharma, TMA’s Senior Director for Transport spoke to Business Times’ James Karuhangaabout the state of the logistics sector in the region. According to the logistics expert, in the past 10 years, the status of logistics in the region has improved significantly but challenges persist and that is why such a conference comes in handy. Most importantly, he noted, it is very important that countries work very hard to reduce the cost of logistics because poor people bear the brunt more when things go wrong in the logistics sector. The excerpts; What is the situation of the logistics sector in the region at the moment? In the last, 10 years, the status of logistics in the region has improved significantly; the time and the cost has come down dramatically along both the northern corridor and the central corridor. For example on the central corridor, for Rwanda, while the average speed of truck on transit was 7 kilometers an hour it has now improved to as much as 14 kilometers an hour and so, that is doubling is speed along the corridor. This has resulted in a reduction in prices of logistic movements along the corridor. Which studies back this up? The Logistics Performance Index of the World Bank also shows a significant improvement in all the countries of the EAC on logistics. What it shows is that normally, the logistics performance of...