More women in developing countries will own phones, thanks to the availability of cheap phones and features that appeal to them. According to mobile companies in the region, the mobile money platforms have encouraged women with low incomes to own a phone because of the need to receive and send money. Safaricom, Bharti Airtel, Vodacom and MTN all have mobile money platforms. “M-Pesa provides financial security for women as it gives them an independent place to store and manage their funds,” said Nzioka Waita, Safaricom corporate affairs manager. Orange Kenya is launching one of the cheapest phones in the market that will appeal to low-income earners. “We are launching the Kaduda handset, which will retail at Ksh999 ($11) and will have dual SIM capability, a 1.3MP camera, Bluetooth, a micro SD slot and data capability,” said the operator in a statement. A new study by Groupe Speciale Mobile Association (GSMA) titled Women and Mobile: Still an Untapped Opportunity, shows that more women would be willing to own a phone if the handsets are cheap and have features and services that appeal to their gender. The study shows that the top five barriers to women owning and using mobile phones from a customer perspective are cost, network quality and coverage, security and harassment, operator/agent trust, and technical literacy and confidence. The study released last week was carried out in 11 countries including Kenya, Egypt and Niger. Others were India, Colombia, Jordan, Indonesia, Mexico, China and Turkey. “It is important to recognise...

The vision of free cross-border movement within the 19-member Comesa bloc has drawn closer to reality after three more states scrapped the visa requirement for travellers. Mauritius, Rwanda and Seychelles have scrapped visas on nationals of Comesa member states while Zambia has issued a circular waiving visas for the region’s citizens who travel for official business only. The decisions are part of efforts to implement the bloc’s Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Services, Labour and Rights of Establishment and Residence in the region. “Although, we have not recorded new signatures and ratifications, a number of member states have showed strong commitment and promised to speed-up the process of signing and ratifying the protocol. The government of the Republic of Zambia has sent an official letter which states that the Protocol will soon be signed,” Mr Houssein Guedi Absieh, the Immigration Officer at Comesa, said. So far four countries; Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Zimbabwe have signed the protocol on free movement of persons. Only Burundi has fully ratified it. Kenya and Rwanda are, however, already fully complying with most of the provisions of the protocol before it is fully implemented by the bloc. The two countries have promised to ratify the protocol soon. The ease of movement within the 19-member Comesa bloc is set to be received positively in Kenya which has made the bloc its single-most important destination for export. Official data indicates that the region accounted for 33 per cent of the Sh502 billion worth of exports that...

Kigali and Dar seem determined to bury the hatchet and embark on regional integration initiatives together after almost two years of diplomatic tensions between the two countries which broke out in May 2013. Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete was among the regional leaders who attended the 9th Northern Corridor Integration Projects summit in Kigali on Saturday during which the heads of states pledged to fast track different projects to link their countries to enhance trade and free movement of people. Anxiety gripped the East African Community following President Kikwete taking over the chairmanship from Kenya’s President Uhuru Kenyatta, particularly regarding how the Tanzanian leader would handle matters given the tensions between Dar and Kigali. However Rwanda and Tanzania seem to have put their differences aside in the interest of region integration, with President Kikwete particularly thanking President Paul Kagame for the invitation and ‘wonderful hospitality’. During the meeting, Kagame also emphasised the importance of Kikwete’s presence and what it means for the fast tracking of different integration projects, raising hopes that EAC partner states are finally putting aside their differences to move together. “Let me particularly thank President Kikwete, the chair of the East African Community, for finding time to be here with us,” President Kagame said amid applause from a seemingly relieved audience. “Let me quickly add that this raises prospects for many projects along different corridors of the East African geographical space to materialise with the speed that the East Africans want to see,” the Rwandan leader said. Kigali...

East Africa is edging closer towards a single taxation regime in its bid to attract more capital from investors who have been putting their money in tax havens like Mauritius. Kenya has joined Rwanda in ratifying the EAC double taxation agreement (DTA) that promises investors taxation in the country of incorporation rather than the country of operation within the bloc. A double taxation agreement means that an income that has already attracted any form of taxation in the signatory country cannot be subjected to another levy by any of the countries involved. This means that investors operating in two or more EAC countries will only pay in one jurisdiction. A typical scenario is where a multinational company like Bidco Oil Refineries, Kenya Commercial Bank or Uchumi Supermarkets, which transacts business in Kenya and other East African countries, finds the profits or gains thus accruing are subject to tax in Kenya and the other regional country it is operating in. “With the agreement in place, governments will formulate regulations on how to tax such companies’ income only once — either in the country of origin or in the company it is operating in. This will see companies save up to 50 per cent of their income tax,” said Andrew Luzze, executive director of the East African Business Council. However, Mr Luzze added, the EAC governments are resisting the idea of signing the DTA for fear that they may lose revenues, with some countries pushing to renegotiate contracts that they feel are...

ARUSHA, Tanzania, 8 March 2015 / PRN Africa / — The EAC Secretariat celebrated International Women's Day as part of its strategy to increase the participation of women in the EAC's regional integration process. Under this year's theme ‘Make it Happen,' the Deputy Secretary General, together with the Arusha City Council, Women Organisations, Staff members of the EAC and other invited guests, took part in a ‘Walk for Gender Equality' around designated areas in Arusha town, visited the Maternity Unit of Mt. Meru Regional Hospital, launched the EAC International Women's website, and benefitted from various presentations and key note addresses on women's rights and gender equality. “International Women's Day is a time to reflect on the achievements that women in the EAC have attained in the last 20 years, as well as to identify the challenges that still impede their full potential,” said Hon. Jesca Eriyo, EAC's Deputy Secretary General, Productive and Social Sectors. “We recognise that women make a significant contribution towards the process of economic transformation and sustainable growth, and that is why we want to emphasise the importance of their effective participation, empowerment and development in EAC's integration process,” she said. ‘Make it Happen' stands as a global call for women and men to concretize Gender Equality, which is a follow up to the prepositions from the 20th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women held in Beijing in 1995. Gender equality can only be attained when women and men enjoy the same rights and opportunities...

The United States Federal government has given business people and exporters in the East African Community (EAC) a first crack at imposing their will on the US market as part of Trade Africa Initiative. This is a chance for the EAC to show off what it can do. After all, the US chose East Africa first, probably because compared to other regions in sub-Saharan Africa, it is making far faster progress towards economic integration. We should play this card constantly to drum up large investment from the US in the future. As a key aspect of President Barack Obama’s Africa policy, the Trade Africa Initiative is supposed to be a partnership between the US and sub-Saharan Africa to increase internal and regional trade within Africa, and expand trade and economic ties among Africa, the United States, and other global markets. A notable sentiment said by Michael Froman, during the formal siging of the agreement with EAC representatives in Washington, was that the deal will the streamline customs process. It will also help African exporters meet global standards on food protections and reduce other technical barriers to trade. During its initial phase, Trade Africa aims to double intra-regional trade in the EAC, increase EAC exports to the US by 40%, reduce by 15% the average time needed to import or export a container from the ports of Mombasa or Dar es Salaam to land-locked Burundi and Rwanda in the EAC’s interior, and decrease by 30% the average time a truck takes...

NAIROBI, Kenya – Sitting in truck laden with parts of an oil rig, driver Opira Robinson, 45, rests his head on the steering wheel patiently waiting for customs clearing at Lungalunga, a Kenya-Tanzania border post in Kwale, about 101 kilometres south of Mombasa on the East African coast. He is moving the big rig from Pakwach in Northern Uganda heading for Tanzania’s coast. “I can’t wait to get out of here,” Opira says. “It took me a few hours to cross Malaba, but now I have been here two days already and it might take me two more weeks,” Opira said. At least 50 trucks cross through daily, according to Patrick Omare, the Kenya Customs station officer. The main commodities are Kenyan fruits and wheat exports – timber and maize imports from Tanzania. There is also Malawian tea headed for the Mombasa Tea Auction and some Zambian copper also going through the crossing. It is among 35 One-Stop-Border- Posts (OSBPs) that are under construction across the East African Community. The intention is to reduce delays and ensure faster cargo movement across the region. Money is being provided by the World Bank, African Development Bank and the Japan International Co-operation Agency. According to trade facilitation agency, Trademark East Africa (TMA) which is overseeing the posts. “They are aimed at reducing delays by allowing struck carrying goods to stop once, not twice,” said Frank Matsaert, the TMA Chief Executive Officer in an e-mail response to questions said. “Officials will share facilities on...

President Kenyatta said better infrastructure would also boost competitiveness and attractiveness of the economies and countries in the region. The President spoke in Kigali, Rwanda during the 9th Northern Corridor Integration Summit that brought together the host President Paul Kagame, Uganda’s Yoweri Museveni and Salva Kiir of South Sudan. EAC chair and Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete, Burundi 2nd Vice President Dr. Gervais Rufyikiri and Ethiopia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Tedros Adhanom attended as observers. President Kenyatta won personal praise from Presidents Museveni, Kagame and Kiir for his reforms at the Mombasa port, which has fuelled faster movement of goods through the vital Mombasa regional lifeblood. President Kenyatta said EAC member countries’ efforts in eliminating congestion and delays in movement of goods and people will enable sharing of surplus milk and energy produced in Uganda and Tanzania respectively for regional prosperity. “The impact of better infrastructure on all sectors of EAC nations’ economies is substantial and positive. There is no need for outside import for goods and services produced locally within the EAC region,” The President said. He lauded the consistency, commitment and determination and deepening of commitment of the heads of state not only to the Northern Corridor Integration Projects and EAC integration, but also the regular meetings. “Every meeting we hold now takes our deliberation smoothly further ahead without need to reacquaint any of us with previous developments,” the President said. President Kenyatta said negotiations are at an advanced stage on the central corridor and others that link all the...

Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni has re-emphasised the benefits of integration and observed that for over 50 years East African leaders have been working towards the integration of the region in particular and the African continent in general because of the numerous advantages for Africans.Museveni was addressing the 9th Northern Corridor Integration Summit at Serena Hotel in the Rwandan Capital of Kigali on Saturday. Member countries of the Northern Corridor Integration include Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan while Tanzania and Burundi are observers. The Kigali Summit was convened to fast-track the implementation of the 14 projects launched under the Northern Corridor Infrastructural Projects Framework. Museveni also saluted the Kenyan leader, Uhuru Kenyatta for waving off taxes levied on goods entering Uganda at the customs which, he said has reduced the delay of goods entering the country. Host President Paul Kagame thanked the private sector in East Africa for their participation in the Northern Corridor Integration Project Summit saying this had added value to their work as the East African Community members. President Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania, who is the current Chairman of the East African Community, wished Northern Corridor Integration Projects Summit success in their endeavours. South Sudan President, Salva Kiir asked regional leaders to keep supporting the two sides in South Sudan to ensure that they are brought further together in order to ensure that peace returns to his country. Source: Star Africa

The new trade facilitation system, known as the Electronic Single Window, is set to enhance efficiency of cross-border trade at Burundi airports and border posts and reduce cost of doing business Bujumbura, 2 March 2015: Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) launched apaperless electronic system that will simplify submission and processing of trade information for export and imports reducing time to import to Burundi from DarEsSalaam by at least 15%. The system, known as Electronic Single Window (ESW) will allow submission and processing of import, export and transit related trade documents electronicallythus reducing time taken to processes and increasing efficiency. TradeMark Africa funded OBR to implement ESW with US$2.5 million grant. H.E the 2nd Vice President of the Republic of Burundi, DrIr Gervais Rufyikiri, officiated the launch held at OBR offices. ESW will enable traders to submit information and administrative requirements for imports and exports, once, at a single entry point on the internet. The trade files can be attached in a range of formats including text files, images and tables. Once submitted, a clearing agent will no longer need to physically take documents from one government agency to another for processing but simply fill in necessary information on the web page. The electronic process will enhance efficiency at the borders and is expected to contribute to 15 % reduction in time to import (or export) a container to Burundi from Dare salaam. It is also expected to contribute significantly to the 30% reduction of the average time a truck takes to...