Busia, June 20, 2023: TradeMark Africa (TMA) jointly with Busia County Government, the Ministry in charge of EAC Affairs and development partners, have today officially launched a safe space market that will benefit 160 women cross-border traders, who were affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The construction of the market started in July 2021 as part of the Safe Trade Emergency Facility (STEF) that TradeMark Africa implemented together with the County Government of Busia with funding from Canada, Ireland, the European Union, and Denmark. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, took a huge toll on international and local trade. Informal cross border traders, particularly women, were hard hit, with reports indicating closure of their businesses, or a drastic reduction in operations with income losses of over 90% due to stringent government-enforced restrictions of social distancing to reduce overcrowding and combat spread of the virus. The establishment of Safe Trade Zones as espoused in the STEF programme was an important step in helping traders, their customers, and local authorities to comply with COVID-19 protocols such as social distancing. “Due to the significant risk posed by the global pandemic, difficult decisions had to be taken. Two options were considered: either shutting down non-compliant COVID-19 markets or implementing strict containment measures. Unfortunately, these measures resulted in the displacement of many women traders, leading to the loss of their livelihoods,” said Allen Asiimwe, TradeMark Africa’s Deputy Chief Executive Officer, and Chief of Programmes. Allen added: “Today, we are happy to witness many of...

Nairobi, 14 June 2023: Following over 13 years of supporting trade facilitation initiatives across East Africa, Southern Africa and the Horn of Africa, TradeMark Arica (TMA) has announced its third strategic plan billed to support more inclusive, greener, and digital trade initiatives. The strategy covers 2023-2030. TMA targets to raise and invest $700 million over the seven-year period. TMA has stated that it aims to contribute to a further reduction of trade costs and increase efficiency in an expanded Pan-African posture. Specifically, it aims to facilitate an increase in Africa’s exports to the rest of the world by 33% from $500 billion to $650 billion, an increase in the value of intra-African trade by $70 billion whilst directly contributing to creation of 400,000 jobs. The seven-year plan dubbed Strategy 3 is anchored on calculated efforts to support implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the decarbonisation of trade and logistics processes in sub-Saharan Africa with an aim to leverage green investments to a tune of $120 million, while facilitating enterprises and governments through innovative automated systems to ease cross-border transactions and hasten movement of goods across select trade and transport corridors. Building on the successes of Strategy 1 and 2 (2010-2023), TMA will deepen its work on select corridors in the continent with a focus on reducing the time and cost it takes to trade across borders and trade nodes by 15%. The strategy comes in the wake of TMA’s recent rebranding and expansion to West Africa with...

Kasumulu/Songwe Border, Tanzania/Malawi - June 5, 2023 - Today, a historic event unfolded as the electronic data exchange between Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) and Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA) was officially launched. The data exchange will facilitate sharing of information through the respective Revenue Authorities Customs Management Systems Tanzania Customs Integrated System (TANCIS) for TRA, and ASYCUDA World for MRA (The ceremony took place at the Kasumulu/Songwe border, signifying a breakthrough in cross-border trade efficiency and fostering regional economic growth. Supported by the Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office through TradeMark Africa to a tune of   USD 200,000, , this initiative aims to streamline customs processes, promote transparency, and facilitate seamless trade operations. The integration of TRA-TANCIS and MRA - ASYCUDA World will revolutionize the clearance processes, benefiting businesses and individuals in both Tanzania and Malawi. According to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade, the export value between Tanzania and Malawi in 2022 amounted to USD 81.54 million. With the implementation of this advanced system, it is anticipated that the trade value will witness a significant upsurge, resulting in exponential revenue growth for both countries. The TRA Deputy Commissioner General, Mr. Mcha Hassan Mcha highlighted the significance of the system stating, "The electronic data exchange between TRA and MRA is a monumental step towards modernizing customs procedures and simplifying cross-border trade. By leveraging advanced technology, we aim to optimize revenue collection, reduce clearance times, enhance trade facilitation, and improve the ease of doing business.” The MRA Executive Director – Corporate...

Mombasa, 17 May 2023: Under the leadership of the Netherlands, supported by Denmark and the European Union (EU), TradeMark Africa (TMA) with the Kenyan Government and private sector, have today kicked off plans aimed at driving the country’s shift to the green and sustainable transportation of Kenyan horticultural exports. Successful implementation of the plans will enable Kenya to not only increase its share, but also to shift to exporting half of its horticulture produce from air to sea freight in the next 10 years. This will reduce both the carbon footprint and the cost of exports. Several larger companies have already started to use sea freight for the export of flowers, vegetables and fruits but the sector is now aiming for a transformative and larger shift. The kick off meeting at the Port of Mombasa marked the official start of engagements to map out pathways towards transitioning to moving more horticultural exports by sea. It was attended by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs Hon. Salim Mvurya, representatives from the Ministry of Roads and Transport, Ambassadors from European Union Member States in Kenya and TMA Country Director Mr Ahmed Farah and Deputy CEO Ms Allen Sophia Asiimwe. Those attending the meeting agreed that the shift from air to sea freight will allay growing concerns about air freight’s large carbon footprint. The push for sustainable transportation comes not just from the EU, which is one of Kenya’s major export destinations, but also other major global actors and...

Download TMA Annual Report 2021/2022 Suite of interventions at the Port of Mombasa has over the years reduced cargo clearance time to 3.5 days in 2022 down from 11 days in 2010. TMA has invested upwards of US$88 million at the port to date. The cost per kilometre of transporting a 20-foot container from Mombasa to Kampala along the Northern Corridor declined by 41%, from US$2.90/KM in 2010 to US$1.70/KM in 2021 Interventions at the Nimule/Elegu border between Uganda and South Sudan, reduced cargo clearance time at Nimule (South Sudan) from 4 hours to 7 hours and at Elegu (Uganda) from 60 hours to 1.5 hours between 2013 and 2021. Automating key processes and acquiring modern equipment at the Tanzania Bureau of Standards, reduced certification time by 58% from 50 days in 2017 to 21 days in 2022. Time taken for sample analysis decreased from approximately 5.5 hours to 10 Nairobi, 09th March 2023: Leading aid for trade organisation TradeMark Africa -TMA (formerly TradeMark East Africa) has today launched its Annual Report 2021/2022 that highlights significant contributions to reducing trade times and costs in the East, Horn, and Southern Africa region. The report covers thematic trade facilitation areas including physical infrastructure, digital trade systems, improved trade environment and also the financial highlights of the year. The report is available on the link www.trademarkafrica.com/publications/ and outlines priorities to ensure trade facilitation solves the challenges and seizes the opportunities of the future, not least fostering green trade, and supporting the continent-wide momentum...

Nairobi, 28th February 2023: Leading aid for trade organisation TradeMark Africa -TMA (formerly TradeMark East Africa), global Government advisory organisation Tony Blair Institute (TBI) and catalytic fund Trade Catalyst Africa (TCA - a subsidiary of TMA), have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), to closely collaborate in trade facilitation and trade finance in order to grow trade across Africa. The three organisations will work closely to facilitate trade development to support implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) which became effective in 2021. The AfCFTA aims to create a continent-wide market of $3.4 trillion and 1.3 billion people, where goods from one corner trade freely in another. If fully implemented, the AfCFTA could lift thirty million people out of poverty by 2035 based on trade between African countries growing by more than 50%. The success of AfCFTA – and of greater trade integration more widely – hinges on the removal of trade barriers across Africa. These include significant transport infrastructure gaps, cumbersome and unautomated trade processes, and differing customs regimes that delay goods moving freely. TMA, TBI and TCA will be deploying their strong expertise in trade facilitation projects, policy advice to governments and innovative finance to help resolve these trade bottlenecks. Past interventions by the three organisations in Africa include supporting the implementation of trade corridor efficiency programmes, delivering tech-based solutions for trade licensing and customs administration, helping governments harmonise and automate trade standards, generating holistic government trade and export promotion strategies, and facilitating trade and...

The European Union has today announced a funding of Euro 25 million to TradeMark Africa (formerly TradeMark East Africa) to facilitate a five-year programme that will boost Kenya’s exports and support the Government in creating a conducive trade environment. Moreover, the programme will aim to create a more environmentally sustainable export eco system that will reduce the carbon footprint of exports.  The European Union Ambassador to Kenya H.E Henriette Geiger and TradeMark Africa’s Chief Executive Officer Mr. David Beer signed the agreement in the presence of Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industry Hon. Moses Kuria during the ongoing EU-Kenya Business Forum that’s is taking place in Nairobi. The programme, named Business Environment and Export Enhancement Programme (BEEEP), will build on interventions already supported by the Government of Kenya and will complement the goal of the Integrated National Export Development and Promotion Strategy (INEDPS) that seeks to grow Kenya’s agricultural exports. The goal is to close the negative balance of trade through export growth, factor productivity and stimulating economic development and job creation, in a sustainable and inclusive manner. Commenting about the programme before the ceremony, European Union Ambassador to Kenya Henriette Geiger said; “With BEEEP everything comes together, the private sector, the government and financing institutions. We are happy to support the Kenyan government in achieving a sustainable growth of its exports, including greening of transport and logistics. BEEEP aligns fully with our Global Gateway Strategy. The EU support to creating a more conducive business environment both at national...

In a joint statement between the Ministry of Trade and Industry and TradeMark Africa on January 27, 2023, the Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Samuel A. Jinapor (MP) and Amb. Erastus Mwencha, the Board Chairman of TradeMark Africa (TMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on improving Ghana’s trade infrastructure and environment. This is part of the Government’s effort to enhance trade competitiveness within the context of the National AfCFTA Policy Framework and Action Plan. The MoU was signed during the launch of TradeMark Africa in Ghana at Peduase Valley Resort, Aburi in the Republic of Ghana, in the presence of H.E Wamkele Mene, the Secretary General of the African Continental Free Trade Area; Hon. Herbert Krapa, Deputy Minister in charge of International Trade, the Chief Executive Officer of TradeMark Africa, Mr. David Beer and heads of relevant Ministries, Department and Agencies and Distinguished Guests. The Ministry of Trade and Industry acting through the National AfCFTA Coordination Office and the newly launched TradeMark Africa by this MoU affirmed their commitment and determination to improving trade-related infrastructure and environment in efforts to enhance the performance of the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor to support intra-African trade as envisioned by the AfCFTA Agreement. The MoU marks the official start of TMA operations in Ghana and the next logical step as the Government of Ghana and TMA work to reduce costs and time it takes to trade across borders in Ghana. The two partners will work together to support the development of trade...

On January 27, 2023, TradeMark East Africa officially became TradeMark Africa (TMA). The new brand unveiling happened simultaneously with the formal launch of operations in Ghana following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between TMA and Ghana's Ministry of Trade and Industry. This ushered in a new chapter in TradeMark Africa's aspirations of continent-wide trade facilitation and improving business competitiveness. We have compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about TMA's rebranding to help you understand more about our vision for enhanced trade integration in Africa. You will also learn more about our new brand identity. Note: TradeMark is joined form of Trade & Markets. Please, download the FAQs for more. [download id="65516"]

TradeMark Africa (formerly TradeMark East Africa) confident to apply the successes of its support to trade facilitation initiatives across major trade corridors in Africa  Accra, Ghana, January 27, 2022: TradeMark East Africa, one of the world’s leading Aid for Trade organisation, has today rebranded to TradeMark Africa (TMA) and simultaneously officially launched its West Africa operations. Founded in 2010 in Kenya, today marks TradeMark Africa expansion from its previous core operational area of East Africa and the Horn, to also support countries in West and Southern Africa. TradeMark Africa now has a presence in fourteen countries in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA): Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Malawi, Zambia, Mozambique, and Ghana. TradeMark Africa has to date made cumulative investments of over $1.3 billion in East Africa and the Horn, to reduce the time and costs of trading across borders, and to improve export competitiveness of African businesses. These have among other results slashed the time for traders to cross borders – by 70% on average; and for businesses to receive certification – often from many days to a number of hours. Its programmes have contributed to a 16.5% reduction in the total time it takes to transport a container on the Northern Corridor from Kenya’s Mombasa Port to Bujumbura, Burundi. As part of the pivot to West Africa, TradeMark Africa will support the Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), based in Accra, Ghana, to realise its vision...