Un nouveau projet visant à renforcer la conformité et la compétitivité de la chaîne de valeur du maïs dans les districts de Gulu et d'Amuru, dans le nord de l'Ouganda, a été lancé. Le projet, mis en œuvre en partenariat avec TradeMark Africa et avec le soutien du gouvernement britannique, vise à renforcer les capacités des acteurs de la chaîne de valeur du maïs dans les districts de Gulu et d'Amuru, en mettant l'accent sur l'amélioration du respect des normes relatives au maïs. Ceci, à son tour, vise à améliorer la qualité, la compétitivité du marché et les moyens de subsistance des agriculteurs dans les districts de Gulu et d'Amuru. S'exprimant lors du lancement à l'hôtel Churchill Courts de Gulu, la directrice exécutive de SEATINI, Jane Nalunga, a déclaré que le projet s'inscrivait dans le cadre de leurs efforts continus visant à améliorer le respect des normes pour les principaux produits agricoles et à améliorer la compétitivité de l'Ouganda sur les différents marchés. « Le maïs est une culture importante pour la sécurité alimentaire, mais aussi pour le commerce et l'immense potentiel qu'il peut contribuer à améliorer les moyens de subsistance tout au long de la chaîne de valeur et à accroître les revenus des ménages », a déclaré Mme Nalunga. Mme Nalunga a expliqué que le maïs est une source essentielle de nourriture et de revenus pour des millions de ménages en Ouganda et qu'il est largement cultivé dans tout le pays en raison de son adaptabilité aux différentes...

Le Secrétariat de la Communauté de l'Afrique de l'Est (CAE) a lancé la plateforme centralisée du Territoire douanier unique (TCD), un outil conçu pour faciliter l'échange transparent de données douanières et commerciales en temps réel entre les autorités douanières et portuaires des États partenaires interconnectés. L'inauguration a eu lieu au siège du secrétariat de la CAE à Arusha, en Tanzanie, et coïncide avec la célébration de la Journée internationale des douanes, dont le thème est « La douane respecte son engagement en faveur de l'efficacité, de la sécurité et de la prospérité ». La secrétaire générale de la CAE, S.E. Veronica Nduva, qui a présidé au lancement, a souligné l'importance de la plateforme pour faire progresser l'intégration régionale et stimuler le commerce : « Le territoire douanier unique a été créé en 2014 pour simplifier, automatiser et accélérer le mouvement des marchandises à travers la CAE. La plateforme centralisée est un élément clé du cadre du territoire douanier unique. Grâce au partage en temps réel des informations douanières, cette plateforme permet de relever des défis tels que les retards de dédouanement, les barrières non tarifaires, les coûts de transaction élevés et les inefficacités dans le commerce transfrontalier », a-t-elle déclaré. Mise en œuvre initialement en 2017, la plateforme a évolué pour prendre en charge les transactions liées au commerce intrarégional, aux exportations vers les marchés mondiaux, aux marchandises en transit et à la délivrance de certificats d'origine. En 2023, la plateforme a été mise à jour pour inclure le commerce...

A new project that will help strengthen the maize value chain’s compliance and competitiveness in Gulu and Amuru districts in Northern Uganda has been launched.The project implemented in partnership with TradeMark Africa with support from the UK Government, seeks to strengthen the capacity of maize value chain actors in Gulu and Amuru Districts, with a focus on enhancing compliance with maize standards. This, in turn, aims to improve quality, market competitiveness, and the livelihoods of farmers in Gulu and Amuru districts. Speaking during the launch at Gulu Churchill Courts Hotel, SEATINI Executive Director, Jane Nalunga said the project is part of their continuous efforts toward enhancing standards compliance for key agricultural products and improving Uganda’s competitiveness in various markets.“There is a reason we chose maize. Maize is an important crop when it comes to food security but also for trade and the immense potential it can contribute to improving livelihoods across the entire value chain and improving incomes at the household level,” Nalunga said. She explained that maize serves as a key source of food and income for millions of households in Uganda and is widely cultivated across the country due to its adaptability to various Agro-ecological zones.“Maize also plays a significant role in food security and trade with a large portion of the production being consumed locally and the surplus exported to neighbouring countries but its  production faces challenges which compromise its quality and consequently leading to rejections by key trading partners.”Previously, Ugandan maize has been flagged and stopped...

Delegates at the event while unveiling a revamped Single Customs Territory (SCT) Centralised Platform The establishment of over 15 One-Stop Border Posts in East African Community (EAC) has generated annual savings of more than $63 million and reduced border crossing times by 70 percent, said Veronica Nduva, EAC Secretary General. She noted that the physical and digital infrastructure put in place over the years have efficiently maximized the time and cost of cross-border trade, hence, driving regional integration and deepening trade. ALSO READ: How one stop border posts have reduced cost of trade This was highlighted at the unveiling of a revamped Single Customs Territory (SCT) Centralised Platform, a tool designed to facilitate the seamless exchange of customs and trade data in real-time among interconnected partner states’ customs and port authorities, on January 27.   Veronica Nduva, EAC Secretary General speaks during the event while unveiling a revamped Single Customs Territory (SCT) Centralised Platform. Courtesy Held at the EAC Secretariat Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania, it was in line with the celebration of the International Customs Day, themed “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity.” “The Centralised Platform is a critical component of the SCT framework. By enabling real-time sharing of customs information, this platform augments regional efforts to address challenges such as delays in customs clearance, non-tariff barriers, high transaction costs, and inefficiencies in cross-border trade,” said Nduva. “By automating the critical customs and trade facilitation processes, these interventions, including the Centralised Platform, ensure faster and more efficient...

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF), with support from Trade Mark Africa (TMA), is seeking registration / accreditation to offer Global Good Agricultural Practice (G.A.P) certification to enhance global market access and trade facilitation through reducing the cost of doing business for farmers. Global GAP is an internationally recognised farm assurance program, translating consumer requirements into Good Agricultural Practice. It is a privately owned certification scheme, mainly offered by private certification bodies at a price range of between USD 10,000 to USD 25,000 per farm, because it requires getting auditors from outside Uganda which is costly, coupled with limited awareness in the Agricultural sector. However, once UNBS acquires the Global G.A.P certification registration, the cost of acquiring Global G.A.P certification will be tremendously reduced to less than USD 4000, allowing majority of Ugandan farmers and exporters to meet international food safety and quality requirements leading to access of premium markets in Europe and North America. Currently, there are less than 10 Ugandan companies with valid Global G.A.P certifications, and the above intervention to reduce the cost of Global G.A.P certification will see this number increase, improving Uganda’s capacity to leverage and maximize its horticultural export potential. Availability of affordable Global G.A.P certification within the country will further ensure import substitution of certification services by increasing market access and competitiveness of Uganda’s fresh produce globally, thus promoting export promotion in line with Vision 2040 and NDP IV. Thus,...

The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS), in partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Animal Industry and Fisheries (MAAIF) and Trade Mark Africa (TMA), is working to secure accreditation to offer Global Good Agricultural Practice (GAP) certification. This move is aimed at reducing the high costs associated with certification and improving Uganda's access to international markets. Global GAP is a widely recognized farm assurance program that ensures farms meet international standards for food safety, quality, and sustainability. Typically, obtaining this certification involves high costs, ranging between USD 10,000 and USD 25,000 per farm, due to the need for foreign auditors. However, once UNBS acquires the certification registration, the cost of obtaining global GAP certification will drop significantly to under USD 4,000, enabling more Ugandan farmers and exporters to meet global standards. Currently, fewer than 10 Ugandan companies hold valid global GAP certifications, but this number is expected to rise with the reduction in certification costs. "Once registration is secured, many Ugandan farmers will be able to access premium markets in Europe and North America," said Sylvia Kirabo, UNBS spokesperson. "This intervention will significantly enhance Uganda's horticultural export potential and ensure greater competitiveness of Uganda's fresh produce on the global market." The initiative aligns with Uganda's Vision 2040 and the National Development Plan IV, which emphasise the importance of promoting exports and increasing the country's agricultural capacity. The UNBS, MAAIF, and TMA are also conducting capacity-building programs to educate farmers about the Global GAP standards, ensuring they can implement the necessary...

  Le Forum pour le développement du commerce en Afrique 2024 s'est achevé à Kigali les 2 et 3 décembre, avec des appels unanimes à investir dans l'infrastructure numérique pour le commerce, et en particulier le passage à des frontières sans arrêt à travers les principaux corridors de commerce et de transport de l'Afrique. Avec pour thème « Libérer le potentiel commercial de l'Afrique grâce à l'innovation numérique », le forum a appelé à des avancées rapides dans le commerce numérique à travers le continent sous les auspices du protocole sur le commerce numérique de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAf). Édouard Ngirente, le Premier ministre du Rwanda, S.E. Wamkele Mene, secrétaire général de la ZLECAf, et le ministre rwandais du Commerce et de l'Industrie, Prudence Sebahizi, ainsi que d'autres ministres, partenaires de développement et dirigeants d'institutions multilatérales, ont apporté leur soutien à l'événement. Le Forum pour le développement du commerce en Afrique a vu des experts se plonger dans des discussions variées allant de la technologie du grand livre distribué pour le commerce à la construction de corridors intelligents à travers les principaux corridors de commerce et de transport de l'Afrique, afin de faciliter le commerce et la croissance économique en Afrique. « Nous avons entamé des conversations qui conduiront à des améliorations tangibles dans la manière dont les échanges commerciaux sont menés à travers nos frontières. La numérisation nous donne l'occasion d'intégrer les MPME et les petites entreprises dans l'économie numérique, ce qui leur permettra d'accéder aux...

Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente delivers his remarks during the opening of the Africa Trade Development Forum in Kigali on Monday, December 2. Courtesy. Investment in Africa's digital and technological capabilities is necessary to unlock the continent's trade potential and accelerate economic growth, Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente said on Monday, December 2, as he opened the Africa Trade Development Forum in Kigali. Achieving this vision requires countries to adapt to the rapidly evolving trade landscape shaped by emerging technologies, Ngirente said, adding that enabling free movement of people, goods, and services is crucial to unlocking the full potential of intra-African trade. “Leveraging digital technologies is critical. Removing non-tariff barriers and facilitating seamless cross-border movement will not only create new opportunities for businesses but also address key trade-related challenges across the continent,” he said. “This potential requires that our countries advance the use of digital innovation in trade operations. Doing so will not only facilitate connections between producers and consumers but also boost growth and create opportunities for better jobs.” Ngirente noted that achieving this ambitious vision would require significant investments in scaling up energy and digital infrastructure, easing electronic cross-border payments, and improving customs and logistics systems.   Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente delivers his remarks during the opening of the Africa Trade Development Forum in Kigali on Monday, December 2. Courtesy Studies show that improving digital connectivity, combined with a supportive regulatory framework, could reduce trade costs by as much as 25 percent, Ngirente told delegates at the two-day event co-hosted by the...

Delegates follow a presentation at the opening of the Africa Trade Development Forum in Kigali on Monday, December 2. Courtesy By embracing emerging technologies and building robust digital infrastructure, African countries can unlock new opportunities for businesses, improve access to global markets, and increase the efficiency of trade operations, officials said during the African Development Forum in Kigali, on December 2. The forum highlighted that digitalisation holds immense potential for transforming Africa's trade landscape by facilitating smoother cross-border trade and boosting exports across the continent. According to TradeMark Africa (TMA), an organisation that works to increase trade in Africa, a major challenge facing cross-border digital trade in Africa is the lack of uniform regulations across countries. Each nation has its own rules governing digital transactions, data privacy, and e-commerce, thereby creating barriers for trade. One of the key advantages of digital trade is its ability to empower small businesses, including women entrepreneurs, smallholders, and marginalised groups, by lowering barriers to entry.   Delegates follow a presentation at the opening of the Africa Trade Development Forum in Kigali on Monday, December 2. Courtesy Antoine Sebera, the chief innovation officer at Rwanda Information Society Authority (RISA), said that the fragmentation of policies is a critical barrier to digital trade, and aligning these frameworks under initiatives like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Digital Trade Protocol is a game-changer. ALSO READ: Rwanda set to host Trade Development Forum “Fragmented regulations limit our ability to scale. With the AfCFTA framework, we have an opportunity...

This photo taken on April 4, 2024, shows a statue (L) and Kigali Convention Centre in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda. (Xinhua/Dong Jianghui) Delegates at the Trade Development Forum 2024 have called for strengthened efforts to promote digital innovation as a means of unlocking Africa's trade and business potential. KIGALI, Dec. 3 (Xinhua) -- Delegates at the Trade Development Forum 2024 have called for strengthened efforts to promote digital innovation as a means of unlocking Africa's trade and business potential. The forum, which opened Monday in the Rwandan capital of Kigali, was organized by TradeMark Africa (TMA), an aid-for-trade organization with the aim of growing prosperity in Africa through trade, in cooperation with the Rwandan government. It focuses on the transformative power of digital innovation under the theme "Unlocking Africa's Trade Potential Through Digital Innovation." Speaking at the event, Prudence Sebahizi, Rwandan minister of trade and industry, underscored the crucial role of technology in overcoming trade barriers, fostering connections and enabling inclusive economic growth. "This year's theme reflects the aspirations of our continent to build a digitally connected and economically inclusive Africa. Today, we stand on the threshold of unprecedented opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and technology is the engine driving this transformation," Sebahizi said. He highlighted Rwanda's achievements in trade facilitation through initiatives like the Electronic Single Window system, which has significantly reduced trade processing times and costs. "Technology enables us to enhance efficiency, cut trade costs and ensure that Africa's vast market is more...