Regional freight forwarders on Friday penned two vital agreements with foreign associations including one removing the longstanding burden where companies were compelled to pay a cash deposit fee of $2,000, per container, before leaving the port. This came after a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) and the Dubai based National Association of Freight and Logistics (NAFL). Fed Seka, Chairperson of FEAFFA who signed the deal with Alexis Perinet-Marquet, Director of Product and Business Development at Switzerland-based Viaservice SA, at the end of the third Global Logistics Convention held in Kigali told Sunday Times that it is a big relief to Rwandan and regional businesses. The longstanding issue of container guarantees charges at the port, Seka said, was impeding business as the amount charged per container was too much. Now that it has been removed, he said, the cost of doing business will also reduce. Seka said: “There will no longer be cash deposits on containers; there is an issue which has been there, called a container deposit guarantee of $2,000 paid to the shipping line before one lifts every single container from the port.” “That money would be refunded once one returned the shipping boxes but it was a lot of money hindering our business. Imagine if you had 20 containers how much you would leave at the port as a container guarantee. That would be way too much.” With the signing of the MoU, he explained, Viaservice ensures the...

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...

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

August 25, 2019 (JUBA) – South Sudan National Revenue Authority (NRA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have inked an agreement to promote trade and help the young nation, whose economy largely depends on oil revenues, diversify into other sectors by establishing modern systems for the faster clearance of goods. The deal, officials said in statement, will link South Sudan to the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking system (RECTs), which is currently implemented on the Northern Corridor in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) through the respective revenue and customs administrations. RECTs is a web-based integrated system used to monitor transit cargo from departure to the final destination. The new trade agreement is in important in that it will assist Juba in reducing the cost of security bonds, theft and diversions, and enhance security on the transit route from the port of Mombasa. TMA, however, said it hopes South Sudan’s Government of National Unity, expected to be inaugurated on November 12, will materialise. “We are committed to doing our part, but it has to be stressed that we need a government of national unity to stick to the peace deal and start doing good work for the citizens in November,” said TMA CEO Frank Matsaert at the signing of the deal on Friday last week. South Sudan, where oil revenues make up nearly 98 percent of the budget, has been reeling an under economic crisis due to civil war. Source: NewsAfricaNow

PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni of Uganda has called on East African Community (EAC), member states to embrace free trade to boost regional integration that is necessary for sustainable growth and development in the region. Speaking to officials from the East African Business Council (EABC), at Entebbe State House over the weekend Mr Museveni said no future markets for East African good and services without free-trade in East Africa Community, Africa and globally. “There is no serious industry that can survive on the internal market alone and that free trade is the minimum leaders could do to uplift East African livelihoods,” said Mr Museveni as quoted in an EABC statement issued on Sunday. The EABC official had called on President Museveni to engage him on different matters of regional trade which include EAC Common External Tariff (EAC CET), Africa open skies agreement, one network area on telecommunication, harmonization of standards in the EAC and strengthening the EAC secretariat on enforcement of laws. Others are market access with Democratic Republic of the Congo, transport inter-linkages 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. EABC Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Peter Mathuki said that comprehensive review of the EAC CET was yet to be finalized four years down the line adversely affecting intra-EAC trade. The Ugandan leader expressed the importance of partnership between the East African Community (EAC), governments and the private sector. “Private sector is the dynamic and...

The South Sudan National Revenue Authority (NRA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have entered a trade facilitation agreement, which will link the Central African nation to the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS). The electronic system is currently implemented on the Northern Corridor in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC through the respective revenue and customs administrations. Also, the tracking system will help Juba promote trade and diversify from oil revenues by establishing modern systems for faster clearance of goods at borders. Basically, RECTS will enable real-time tracking of transit cargos to or from DRC. This will be done through an online platform monitored in control centres in the four countries where the system operates: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Congo and now South Sudan. With these control centres, the risk of consignment diversion in checkpoints will be reduced, ultimately minimizing checkpoint fraud and cargo theft. NRA Commissioner General Olympio Attipoe noted that the move is important as Juba aims to reduce the cost of security bonds, theft, and diversions, as well as enhance security on the transit route from the port of Mombasa. This development comes as South Sudan struggles to form a national unity government. The country gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but descended into a civil war two years later. After a string of failed agreements, a peace deal was signed last September between the opposition and the ruling parties. However, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in a statement in May announced that both parties agreed to give themselves six more months to...

The South Sudan National Revenue Authority (NRA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have entered a trade facilitation agreement, which will link the Central African nation to the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS). The electronic system is currently implemented on the Northern Corridor in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and the DRC through the respective revenue and customs administrations. Also, the tracking system will help Juba promote trade and diversify from oil revenues by establishing modern systems for faster clearance of goods at borders. Basically, RECTS will enable real-time tracking of transit cargos to or from DRC. This will be done through an online platform monitored in control centres in the four countries where the system operates: Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, Congo and now South Sudan. With these control centres, the risk of consignment diversion in checkpoints will be reduced, ultimately minimizing checkpoint fraud and cargo theft. NRA Commissioner General Olympio Attipoe noted that the move is important as Juba aims to reduce the cost of security bonds, theft, and diversions, as well as enhance security on the transit route from the port of Mombasa. This development comes as South Sudan struggles to form a national unity government. The country gained independence from Sudan in 2011 but descended into a civil war two years later. After a string of failed agreements, a peace deal was signed last September between the opposition and the ruling parties. However, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) in a statement in May announced that both parties agreed to give themselves six more months to...

To make the most out of regional trade while diversifying from reliance on oil revenues, South Sudan’s revenue collection body has partnered with an aid-for-trade organisation. The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which the South Sudan’s National Revenue Authority (NRA) signed with TradeMark Africa (TMA), if implemented to the dot, could according to regional trade analysts, improve the trading environment of the newest country in the world with her regional peers and neighbours. The MoU signed barely a fortnight ago in the South Sudan capital, Juba, commits the two into working towards establishing a modern trade systems and procedures to support faster clearance and transiting of goods. This builds on the work that TMA in partnership with the Juba governments is undertaking at Elegu-Nimule border, the main crossing point between Uganda and South Sudan. Given the prevailing situation, it became apparent that attention will be given to enhancing faster clearance and movement of humanitarian goods coming into South Sudan aiming to halve the time it takes from the current two days to one day or even less. According to the South Sudan Commissioner General, National Revenue Authority, Dr Olympio Attipoe, the uncertainties surrounding consignments destined for South Sudan have been a major challenge. Cases of delayed container freight stations in Mombasa, disappearance of cargo and theft have been rampant and documented. Source: Daily Monitor

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...

August 26th 2019 (Nyamilepedia) – South Sudan’s National Revenue Authority (NRA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA), an East African organization, have signed a Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) aimed at stimulating trade growth from oil revenues in the oil sector. TradeMark Africa (TMA) is a non-profit organization focusing on promoting inclusive trade and improving business relations between East African countries. The TFA signed last Friday by the two bodies seeks to boost cross-border trade and enhance unrestricted movement of goods at border points. Speaking after the signing of the agreement, the head of TradeMark Africa, Frank Matsaert stated that, TMA is committed to doing everything to the best of its ability, but he stressed that the Transitional Government of National Unity must demonstrate its seriousness in implementing the revitalized peace agreement in spirit and letter. “We are committed to doing our part, but it has to be stressed that we need a government of national unity to stick to the peace deal and start doing good work for the citizens in November,” Frank Matsaert was quoted as saying. The trade agreement is expected to link up the world’s youngest nation to the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking system (RECTs). Source: Nyamilepedia