August 23—The regional logistics industry has been asked to work closer together in ways that will strengthen and increase efficiencies as leading French firm, Bolloré Transport & Logistics hints of building a new cargo handling complex in East Africa. “I am challenging the experts in the logistics industry to come up with feasible solutions that will improve the sector’s performance index ranking in the region,” Monica Azuba Ntege, Uganda transport minister told the Regional Logistics Expo forum on Thursday. The logistics industry includes customs clearance, freight forwarding, warehousing, transportation, port services and air cargo. Earlier this month, Philippe Labonne, deputy managing director of Bolloré Transport & Logistics said their strategy is to develop hubs in Africa.  “We have identified  eight of them, such as in Abidjan, where we are building an ‘aerohub’ so that goods can arrive by sea and be redistributed by air. It’s sort of confidential, but I can tell you that we’re looking closely at Nairobi, Kigali, South Africa,” he told the French publication Jeune Afrique. Azuba said Uganda has recorded mixed results in rankings for the movement of goods and services between 2007 and 2016.  The country’s logistics performance index ranking jumped from 83rd position to 58th, however between 2016 and 2018, its rank dropped from 58th position to 102. Kenya is the regional hub with the biggest fleets and container facilities based in that country, arranged along the Northern Corridor route from Mombasa. According to a recent report by financial services firm, pwc, intra-trade in Africa...

Trade mark East Africa has signed a 470 million shillings partnership with two trade and business bodies in the region. 

By Drake Nyamugabwa East Africa Business Council (EABC) has received US$ 3.2 Million from Trademark East Africa aimed at reducing trade barriers in the East African Community through supporting the implementation of a 3 year programme dubbed “Integrating Public-Private Sector Dialogue (PPD) for Trade and Investment in East Africa Community (EAC) Programme”. The East African Business Council (EABC) officially signed a US$ 3.2 Million financing agreement with TradeMark Africa (TMA) on 20th august in Nairobi. 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 EAC. Hon. Peter Mathuki, EABC CEO says that in order to strengthen and sustain EAC’s trade and investment, it is critical that an enabling environment is in place to guarantee growth and predictability adding that 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. “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 needed the policy reforms to the business and investment climate in the EAC. Inadequate trading regimes restrictions on the export of certain commodities, and lack of product diversification and the existence of Non-Tariff Barriers continue to hamper intra-regional trade which is still low...

The East African Business Council (EABC) has signed a $3 million(Sh308.8 million) financing agreement with TradeMark Africa (TMA) to help address trade barriers in East Africa. A similar trade deal worth $1.5 million (Sh154.4 million ) has also been signed between the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and TMA. This will support implementation of a three 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 EAC. 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 per cent compared to other RECs,” EABC CEO Peter Mathuki said. The EABC is a key convenor of high‐level regional Public‐Private...

The East African Business Council (EABC) has secured US$ 3.2 million financing from TradeMark Africa Africa (TMA) to support trade initiatives mainly addressing barriers in the region. This will support  implementation of a three 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 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. 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 & 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 per cent compared to other RECs SADC 40 per cent,”said Hon. Peter Mathuki, EABC CEO. The EABC is a key convenor of high‐level...

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...

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TMA recently announced its new strategy in Rwanda, injecting over US$ 50Million in various projects ranging from physical infrastructure development on Lake Kivu to building digital trade platforms. TradeMark Africa has been feted by the Rwanda Trade body Private Sector Federation (PSF) for its work in reducing barriers to trade in Rwanda. TMA recently announced its new strategy in Rwanda, injecting over US$ 50Million in various projects ranging from physical infrastructure development on Lake Kivu to building digital trade platforms. East Africa is one of the fastest growing blocs in the world, however, the potential of the EAC in regard to growing regional trade is yet to be fully achieved. “This is partially due to the fact that as individual member countries pursue their national industrial policies, they are likely to implement measures that counter regional integration obligations. As a result, trade disputes and non-tariff barriers persist,” Kenya Association of Manufacturers CEO Ms Phyllis Wakiaga said in a statement. During the presentation of the award at the inaugural Golden Business Forum (GBF), held in Rwanda’s capital, Kigali, TMA was recognised for it’s visionary trade facilitation work in the East African region, as well as the consistent track record of building partnerships with private and public sector to enable Rwanda citizens from all walks of life, trade easier across borders. PSF Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Ruzibiza, said that TMA was awarded for its, “Exceptional foresight and creating a business environment that has changed considerably the everyday lives of traders in Rwanda,” he...

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...