Regional artistes can play a vital role in the integration agenda of the East African Community (EAC), a lawmaker said, yesterday, during the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) as members passed the EAC Creative and Cultural Industries Bill. A private members Bill introduced by MP Dr James Ndahiro (Rwanda) seeks to boost the bloc’s creative industries by establishing a council charged with ensuring a favourable environment to enhance and stimulate creativity and innovativeness among EAC citizens. The assembly is currently sitting in Kampala, Uganda. Noting that the Bill was a vital piece of legislation that “should be supported” by everyone, MP Susan Nakawuki (Uganda) pointed out how artistes have been helpful in many respects. “Music and art have always been a tool for sensitisation. We have, for example, had musicians composing educative songs. Ugandan artiste Bobi Wine, for example, composed a song teaching the public about cleanliness,” she said. “Even when it comes to the integration process, we could have musicians singing about integration. Their music can reach far places where ministers cannot reach easily.” Nakawuki spoke of how the music industry is “also key to promoting tourism”. To achieve all this, however, she cautioned that the assembly should also bear in mind the importance of intellectual property rights. She proposed that an intellectual property legislation be enacted as soon as possible so that artistes benefit as they should. Creative industries originate from individual creativity, skill and talent. They have a potential for wealth and job-creation through the generation and...

NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug 25 – TradeMark Africa (TMA) has announced the appointment of a new board of directors. The newly appointed members are from East Africa Community states to represent diversity and present a balance of representation. They include Tanzanian entrepreneur and philanthropist Ali Mufuruki who takes over as the chairman of the board. He is the Chairperson of Infotech Investment Group Limited where he is also the Chief Executive Officer. Other boards where he sits as the chairperson include Msingi Limited Kenya, Legacy Capital Partners Limited Tanzania and Chai Bora Limited Tanzania. “The newly appointed board will work as advisors of Trade Mark East Africa. We will not be employees of the company. We also do not have any shares in the company which ensures that we remain objective to matters affecting company,” said the incoming chairman. Rosette Chantal Rugamba from Rwanda will also sit on the board. Rugamba, who is currently the Managing Director of Songa Africa Limited, is an Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellow and special advisor to the Secretary General UN World Tourism Organization. She also sits on other boards such as that of Equity Bank Rwanda, Sonarwa Insurance Company and Diane Fossey Gorilla Fund International among others. Others to be appointed board members include Patrick Obath from Kenya who also sits at the board of the Kenya Private Sector Alliance, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya, and Unga Group Holdings Limited among others. Obath is currently the Managing Consultant of Eduardo and Associates. It will also include...

More than five years in the making, the ambitious African trade agreement known as the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), officially launched in June, aims to bring together three key African trading blocs—the Southern African Development Community (SADC), the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)—to create a common market spanning the continent from Cairo to Cape Town. With a huge free trade zone encompassing a region of more than 626 million people and a total gross domestic product of $1.2 trillion—equivalent to 58 percent of the continent’s entire GDP—the deal hopes to succeed where earlier, smaller efforts have failed in boosting intra-African trade and economic integration. So far 16 countries have signed on, with another 10 expected to do so after they fully comply with their own internal protocols for joining a binding international agreement. Although the endorsement of 26 African heads of state is in itself a major achievement for the TFTA, there are still many barriers that must be overcome to make this deal a success before negotiations are concluded Source: World Politics Review

The so-called secret "sugar deal" that was purportedly signed by President Uhuru Kenyatta during his recent trip to Uganda has created a political storm and raised some fundamental questions about the regulation of trade within the East African Community. The media have framed the debate as a simplistic political duel between the Jubilee Government and the opposition Cord alliance. In the rhetoric, each side has been posturing as the real champion of the poor sugar cane farmers and accusing the other side of being the bad guys who should be blamed for the pathetic state of Kenya's sugar industry. If there is one thing that has stood out from this vitriolic debate, it has been a confirmation of the popular African proverb that when the elephants fight, it is the grass that gets hurt. The grass in this case is the sugar cane farmer. The story of sugar cane farmers in Kenya is a sad one that presents a perfect picture of what ails Africa generally. VERBAL BATTLE The verbal battle between Kenya's two dominant political camps made the issue look very local. Yet the truth is that the conversation surrounding "trade deals" is a global one, which is bigger and much more complex than many people realise. In the global marketplace, powerful political and economic forces determine the course of trade, often at the expense of the world's poor. The stronger nations of the world are able to both negotiate and enforce deals that serve their domestic interests but...

Kenya and Uganda have agreed to remove all trade barriers that have made it difficult for Ugandan goods, including sugar, to come to the country. East Africa Community Affairs Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said yesterday the two countries agreed to remove the barriers to help in balancing the trade between them, which she said was currently in favour of Kenya. Addressing journalists at Teleposta Towers in Nairobi, the CS said there were existing protocols protecting trading between EAC partners, adding that there was no need for new "deals" to facilitate the import of sugar from Uganda. The CS waded into the ongoing debate regarding an agreement to allow sugar from Uganda into Kenya, saying there was no such deal. Ms Kandie accompanied the President during his state visit to Uganda that has since elicited an emotive debate between the opposition and the government after details of a sugar deal emerged. "As long as the protocols still stand there is no need for any other agreement. The two heads of state made a decision to increase trade between the two countries. The discussions were on how to eliminate the trade barriers," she said. Source: All Africa

TMA is the first company in East Africa to receive the Award Nairobi, 26th August 2015. TradeMark Africa today received the world’s most prestigious corporate procurement certification from the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (CIPS). The award was presented to TMA at the DusitD2 Hotel in Nairobi during a press conference led by the organization’s vice chairman, Tim Lamont and CEO Frank Matsaert. The award makes TMA the second organisation in Africa, after the Africa Development Bank, to receive the certification, and the first in East Africa. [caption id="attachment_8703" align="alignleft" width="600"] From left Felix Muema-Branch Chair Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) Kenya, Frank Matsaert-CEO TradeMarkEast Africa (TMA), Tim Lamont,-Vice Chair of the TMA Board, Ken Jones-Chief Operating Officer TMA, André Coetzee-Managing Director CIPS Africa and Isaac Mwesigye-Procurement director TMA[/caption] The Chartered Institute of Procurement & Supply (CIPS) informed TMA of the certification this week after a detailed evaluation of the organisation’s procurement structures and practices. CIPS analysed TMA procurement processes according to 110 questions under the following headings: leadership & organization, people, performance management, process & systems and strategy. The CIPS process, through the 110 questions, provided the greatest audit, internal/ external and constructive feedback received from internal and external stakeholders. After an evaluation period of 8 months, TMA received the news of the certification on Monday making it the first East African company to have qualified for the award. “This award serves as further proof of TMA adhering to the highest international standards in procurement, maintaining...

Kenya’s port of Mombasa last week handled the Maersk-operated, MV Clemens Schulte, the first time a container vessel with almost 6000 TEU capacity is calling on the East African coastline. According to a Kenya Ports Authority statement, ‘The arrival of the ship signifies yet another benefit of the completed capacity expansion projects. The dredging of port entry channel to the depth of minus 15 meters and widening of turning basin to 300 meters at its narrowest point.’ The port management said hosting the ship is a result of expansion works implemented in recent years. “The other successful key project is the construction of the 240 meter –long Berth 19 which increased the total quay length of Mombasa container terminal to 840m and the container terminal’s capability to accommodate three third generation container vessels at ago,” it reads in part. “Both dredging and construction of berth 19 have attracted larger vessels to the port of Mombasa, boosting customers’ confidence especially shipping lines,” KPA said. The deployment of MV Clemens Schulte into the East African Coastline is another key milestone for Maersk which last year introduced a new service by WAF MAX class vessel, the MV Maersk Cairo. Singapore-flagged MV Clemens Schulte, a gearless vessel discharged 1600 TEUs and loaded 1150 on her maiden call to Mombasa Port. Built in June 2013, the ship has gross tonnage of 51,872 and a net tonnage of 29,415. It has seven structured cargo holds and 650 reefer sockets. With a total capacity of 5466 TEUs,...

The East Africa Community's conference of women in business was launched at the KICC in Nairobi on Thursday. The event brought together women from Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi and Kenya to share their experiences about doing business in their countries. It was also a forum for them to network with their sisters from across the region. The main speakers were East Africa Community secretary general Amb Richard Sezibera, East Africa Community, Trade and Tourism cabinet secretary Phyllis Kandie and National Assembly deputy speaker Joyce Laboso. Also in attendance were the East Africa women in business chair Dorothy Tuma, KNCCI women in business chair Martha Mugambi and UNDP inclusive business adviser Minaj Nieminen. Source: All Africa

The official statements are clear: Regional leaders and policymakers want to make the 26-member Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) the main stepping stone towards the gradual establishment of the Continental FTA (CFTA) comprising the 54 members of the African Union. Indeed, during the June 2015 African Union Summit in Johannesburg leaders ambitiously insisted that the negotiations on goods and services for the establishment of the CFTA be concluded by 2017. High-level political will seems to be strong. The challenge, now, is to convert this political will into something more than a paper agreement. The importance of stakeholder involvement The real effectiveness any trade agreement (or the expansion of an existing one) ultimately depends on the support and the involvement of the key stakeholders—most importantly the private sector—in the design and the implementation. Surprisingly, the regional private sector has not been vocal about its support for either the TFTA or the CFTA. The absence of vigorous national debates about the pros and cons of these agreements has been quite notable. In many countries, the prevailing attitude of the business community ranges from a cautious optimism to a wait-and-see approach. Perhaps this lack of interest is due to a lack of mobilization or consultation at the local level. Or it could be due to a lack of understanding regarding the stakes and potential benefits from what many consider a top-down process. These stakeholders will ultimately put pressure on governments to pursue or reject steps to the CFTA. Thus, in order to comprehend...

East Africa entrepreneur Ali Mufuruki and former WTO Director General Pascal Lamy part of TradeMark Africa’s 11 member board Nairobi – August 25th, 2015 – TradeMark Africa (TMA) today announced the appointment a new Board of Directors. This follows successful completion of a rigorous appointment process of highly-experienced East African nationals. Chaired by Tanzanian entrepreneur Ali Mufuruki, the new Board comprises leading business and civil society professionals in East Africa. Former World Trade Organisation (WTO) Director General Pascal Lamy joins the Board as Special Advisor. In 2013, TMA embarked on a process of developing its governance arrangements. TMA’s investors assume a shareholder role with a day to day oversight of the organisation undertaken by the independent Board. The appointment of the Board members is a strong endorsement of TMA as an inclusive and results driven organisation whose key mandate is to increase prosperity in East Africa. TMA funding has grown to a US$700m budget since its inception in 2010 with presence in all EAC Partner States and South Sudan. "I am proud to welcome such an experienced pool of industry professionals to the board of TradeMark Africa," said Ali Mufuruki, Board Chairman of TMA. "We conducted an exhaustive search for individuals who have proven track records in their respective professions, and are delighted to have identified such outstanding individuals. These board members who comprise professionals from both government, donor institutions and the private sector, bring extensive international and regional expertise in the development sector, executive management and the donor community...