David Beer, CEO of TradeMark Africa speaks exclusively to The New Times. The digitalisation of trade has increased efficiencies in trade processes and changed how trade is conducted on the continent. However, a number of challenges need to be addressed in order to streamline digital trade and ensure its benefits are realised and shared inclusively. The New Times’ Tesi Kaven spoke to David Beer, the CEO of TradeMark Africa on the challenges, opportunities, and the future of digital trade in Africa. Below are the excerpts: How is digitalisation changing trade in Africa? We have seen improvements in the reduction of cost and time of trading across borders after digitalising many trade processes. At TradeMark Africa, we have implemented over 100 digital trade processes in conjunction with our government and private sector partners across Eastern Africa and even further. We have seen the average time to complete trade processes come down by around two thirds or 66 hours. That makes a big difference to exporters and increases their margins and makes them more profitable. We have worked with the government of Rwanda to put in place the electronic single window, which has reduced the time taken to complete those trade processes by half. We have also worked with the government of Kenya to put in place their integrated customers management system that reduced the time to clear air freight from about four days to just a couple of hours. In Uganda, we did the same thing and saw annual costs come...

EIGHT Tanzanian exporters have secured agreements to deliver 960 metric tonnes of fruits and vegetables to Britain, estimated at $2.8m annually if it is sustained. Anthony Chamanga, the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) chief development manager, said at a press conference yesterday that horticultural farmers are staring at an export windfall as the UK’s broad and lucrative market opens its gates. The UK, renowned as one of the world's most lucrative marketplaces, has approved eight Tanzanian horticultural export companies for entry, offering a promising opportunity for local farmers. The rising demand in the UK for fresh produce, fueled by the health-conscious middle class, has positioned fruits and vegetables as the top performers in imported food items. Mbelwa Kairuki, the country’s high commissioner to the UK, played an essential role in linking local exporters with UK buyers, with dedicated collaboration from TAHA. Experts predict this venture will create approximately 3,800 job opportunities along the supply chain, helping to boost agro-sector unemployment. The Horticulture Exports Accelerator Program (HEAP), a newly developed initiative in partnership with TAHA, was facilitated by a delegation of eight local companies making the trip to connect with leading UK importers and explore collaboration opportunities. The TAHA executive led the delegation, participating in a key event held by the Fresh Produce Consortium to present their products and finalize contracts with potential buyers. During their visit, the Tanzanian delegation also explored Spitalfields Market, a central wholesale hub for horticultural imports in London, setting up networking contacts with traders for future partnerships....

(Togo First) - On October 28 and 29, the city of Aneho, near the border with Benin, hosted a training workshop for 50 women and young traders from Togo’s maritime region. Participants learned about customs procedures and regulatory requirements for cross-border trade, particularly along the Abidjan-Lagos corridor. The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Trade and Crafts, and backed by the World Bank's West African Food System Resilience Program (FSRP). The training aimed to improve understanding of the rules governing cross-border trade, making it easier to export goods. Batchassi Katchali, Director of Foreign Trade, underscored women’s role women in regional trade and noted the challenges they face, such as a lack of information on trade opportunities. FSRP representative Nator Koffi Edoh emphasized that workshops like the recent one will help participants enhance their trading activities along the corridor. Also, they align with the government’s efforts to build trade capacity across Togo, covering topics like customs procedures and the African Continental Free Trade Area (ACFTA).

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), established in 2018, is the world’s largest free trade agreement, uniting 54 of Africa’s 55 countries under a common market of 1.3 billion people. The agreement is designed to drive economic growth, enhance intra-African trade, and attract investment across the continent by reducing trade barriers. Kenya, a key player in Africa’s agricultural exports, is looking to leverage this agreement to expand its tea trade and improve the livelihoods of its farmers. CNN’s Victoria Rubadiri recently visited Kericho, one of Kenya’s renowned tea-growing regions, to explore the role of tea in the AfCFTA. During her visit, she spoke with Antony Kinara Margia, an experienced tea farmer who expressed hope that the agreement could unlock new opportunities for Kenyan farmers. “Better returns for farmers may come from adding value to the tea and finding better markets. Let them not stick to one particular market; they can go elsewhere where they can get a better price. Currently, the prices offered are not very favorable to us as farmers,” said Margie. Farmers like Margia’s sentiments underscore the importance of diversifying trade opportunities beyond traditional markets. By expanding into new African markets, tea producers could realize better returns, enhancing the sector’s overall sustainability. Kenya is one of seven countries chosen to lead tariff-free trade under the AfCFTA’s Guided Trade Initiative. However, despite the promise of the initiative, logistical challenges remain. Lindah Oluoch, CEO of the Kenya Tea Growers Association, highlighted the difficulties experienced during the initial implementation of...

The strategy aims to boost trade across member states, with a focus on trade facilitation, regional integration, and capacity building. TradeMark Africa (TMA), an organization focused on promoting trade and economic development across African nations, has launched a new initiative aimed at enhancing value addition in Uganda’s agricultural sector. Since its establishment in 2011, TMA has been working to reduce trade barriers and foster regional integration, and this latest move marks a significant step toward increasing Uganda’s agricultural productivity. Speaking to journalists, Monica Hangi, regional director for East and Central Africa at TradeMark Africa, outlined the organization’s ambitious seven-year strategy, running from 2023 to 2030. The strategy aims to boost trade across member states, with a focus on trade facilitation, regional integration, and capacity building. Ms Hangi revealed that TMA has secured USD 1 billion in funding from 13 donors to support the program. "Discussions in Uganda have centered around value chain enhancement within the agricultural sector, particularly empowering and supporting youth in this area," she explained. With agriculture contributing 24% of Uganda’s GDP and employing over 70% of its workforce, the potential for growth through value addition is immense. The initiative is designed to improve the competitiveness of Uganda’s agricultural products, which could significantly increase farmers’ incomes and generate jobs. Ms Hangi also highlighted TMA’s broader impact, noting that their infrastructure investments across Africa have spurred a 12.8% growth in regional trade, largely due to streamlined trade processes and better market access for agricultural products. During a two-day stakeholder...

ARUSHA: TANZANIA’S High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Ambassador Mbelwa Kairuki, in partnership with the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA), has effectively connected local exporters to potential UK buyers. As a result, eight Tanzanian horticultural export companies have finalised agreements to export a total of 960 metric tonnes of fruits and vegetables to the UK. This initiative is expected to bring in an estimated 2.8 million US dollars (about 7.6tri/-) annually to Tanzania’s economy. Experts predict that this endeavour will generate 3,800 decent jobs throughout the supply chain—from farms to packaging facilities—marking a significant advancement in tackling the unemployment challenges in the country. Expressing his satisfaction, Ambassador Kairuki stated, “I take great pride in having connected our horticulture exporters with UK buyers, aligning with our broader strategy of economic diplomacy under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan’s leadership.” Through the newly established Horticulture Exports Accelerator Programme (HEAP) and in collaboration with TAHA, Ambassador Kairuki facilitated a business mission to London for eight local companies. The objective of this visit was to engage with leading UK importers and explore potential business opportunities. The delegation, prominently led by TAHA’s Chief Development Manager, Mr Anthony Chamanga, took part in a prestigious event organised by the Fresh Produce Consortium (FPC). In his remarks, Mr Chamanga expressed gratitude to Trademark Africa (TMA) for supporting the UK trade mission through its programme for market enhancement of horticultural products (EMAHP). “This esteemed gathering enabled our companies to showcase their products and interact with potential buyers to strike business deals,” noted...

Les États membres de la Communauté d'Afrique de l'Est (CAE) ont été invités à adopter la technologie pour faciliter les paiements transfrontaliers au sein du marché commun régional. Selon l'organisme régional, l'innovation technologique dans ce domaine permettrait aux commerçants et aux investisseurs transfrontaliers de payer et de recevoir des paiements pour des biens et des services par le biais d'un système de paiement rentable, augmentant ainsi les systèmes, le commerce et l'investissement intrarégionaux. La CAE a lancé cet appel lors d'une table ronde de deux jours sur la coordination du soutien des donateurs de la CAE aux systèmes de paiement, qui s'est tenue au siège de la CAE à Arusha, en Tanzanie. La secrétaire générale de la CAE, Mme Veronica Nduva, a déclaré que les banques centrales des États partenaires devraient adopter les changements technologiques pour faciliter les paiements transfrontaliers dans la région. Elle a souligné les défis auxquels la région est confrontée. Il s'agit notamment de la faible utilisation du système de paiement de l'Afrique de l'Est (EAPS) en raison de sa capacité limitée, du manque d'interopérabilité, des lacunes dans la communication entre les banques centrales et les parties prenantes, de la crainte des escroqueries en ligne, du protectionnisme des banques centrales et du chevauchement des adhésions des États partenaires aux systèmes de paiement mis en place par les différentes communautés économiques régionales. Le système a été lancé en 2014, en tant que système de transfert de fonds sécurisé, efficace et efficient, afin de renforcer l'efficacité et la sécurité...

Les agents de dédouanement sont parmi ceux qui font l'éloge du concept de poste frontalier unique (OSBP) en tant que facteur clé d'une facilitation efficace du commerce dans le pays. Le Malawi dispose actuellement d'un OSBP pleinement opérationnel à la frontière Mchinji-Mwami, le poste de Dedza attendant l'achèvement d'une installation similaire du côté mozambicain pour devenir pleinement opérationnel. La construction du nouveau poste de Dedza aurait réduit le temps que les voyageurs, les commerçants, les agents de dédouanement et les autres parties prenantes passent à visiter tous les bureaux nécessaires. À Dedza, le chauffeur de camion Fred Moziyane, originaire d'Afrique du Sud, a fait remarquer que, bien que les agents frontaliers mozambicains n'aient pas encore déménagé dans la structure malawienne, les procédures sont plus rapides du côté malawien.  Grâce à la conception moderne de l'installation, qui abrite tous les fonctionnaires des frontières sous un même toit, nous pouvons accomplir toutes nos tâches en un seul endroit. Auparavant, nous devions nous déplacer d'un bâtiment à l'autre pour faire vérifier et tamponner nos documents », a déclaré M. Moziyane. Prince Kaiwawile, agent de compensation à l'OSBP de Mchinji, a expliqué que la rationalisation des services leur a permis de dédouaner plus de marchandises de manière efficace. Les envois sont traités plus rapidement car les formalités d'importation et d'exportation sont gérées dans un seul bâtiment », a déclaré M. Kaiwawile. Il a ajouté qu'auparavant, lorsque le Malawi et la Zambie opéraient dans des bâtiments distincts, le dédouanement des marchandises prenait des jours, alors...

L'absence d'harmonisation et de promulgation d'une loi de normalisation complète affecte le commerce intra-régional en Afrique de l'Est, l'Ouganda étant pointé du doigt pour avoir retardé la promulgation de la loi sur les normes de la CAE. Le processus est également très lent, ce qui affecte les entreprises, car plus de la moitié des membres n'ont pas encore atteint le seuil requis. Le commerce mondial et régional dépend des normes, de l'assurance qualité, de la métrologie et des essais pour établir la confiance entre les clients et les fournisseurs. Au sein de la CAE, c'est la structure juridique qui n'est pas encore totalement en place, ce qui compromet l'évolution des activités de normalisation, d'assurance qualité, de métrologie et d'essai, qui sont essentielles pour améliorer la productivité et assurer le développement social et économique de la région. En effet, la secrétaire générale de la CAE, Veronica Nduva, s'inquiète du fait qu'en dépit des efforts déployés pour garantir une législation sur les normes, une décision de l'Ouganda empêche la promulgation du projet de loi, ce qui bloque le processus juridique. Lien

Le port de Rubavu a été ouvert pour la phase pilote des opérations, en commençant par le terminal de fret. La phase pilote, qui a débuté le 1er juin 2024, « progresse bien », selon les responsables de l'Agence rwandaise de développement des transports (RTDA), qui recherche actuellement un opérateur privé pour gérer le port.  Les données officielles de la RTDA indiquent que le coût du projet du port de Rubavu s'élève à 7,8 millions de dollars (plus de 10 milliards de Rwf). Le port est sur le point de renforcer le tourisme et le commerce transfrontalier entre le Rwanda et la République démocratique du Congo (RDC). La manutention des cargaisons, le chargement, le déchargement et l'accostage sont quelques-uns des services fournis dans le port, marquant ainsi une étape importante dans le secteur des transports. Les commerçants locaux ont déjà commencé à bénéficier de l'amélioration des installations, facilitant le transport des marchandises vers les villes de Bukavu et de Goma, en République démocratique du Congo. « Nous avons constaté des changements significatifs par rapport à l'ancien port », a déclaré Jean Dusengimana, un habitant du district de Nyamasheke. Il a ajouté : « Nous chargeons les marchandises très confortablement ; l'accostage des bateaux est maintenant plus facile. Avant le nouveau port, nous ne pouvions pas dormir de peur que nos marchandises soient volées. Le nouveau port est plus sûr et moderne. C'est la première fois que je vois un port moderne comme celui-ci ». Pouvant accueillir 1,4 million de passagers...