Products from Malawi will soon find it easier to enter and compete in the international market following a move to support accreditation of the Malawi Bureau of Standards(MBS) by an internationally recognised standards accreditation body. This has been made possible with the EUR 50,000 funding from the Irish Embassy in Malawi through TradeMark Africa. Currently, MBS is unable to certify products and attain recognition in international markets. This is due to lack of accreditation with an international authority on Standards. As a result, key export products like Macadamia nuts have their samples taken to South Africa for testing, causing a direct increase in business costs and time. This reduces the competitiveness of products from Malawi, impeding their potential to reach international markets. Accreditation of MBS will significantly increase efficiency, effectiveness and competitiveness of exports, eliminating the number of rejections owing to non-compliance. Emphasising the importance of compliance to international standards, the Ambassador of Ireland to Malawi, Mr. Séamus O’Grady said, “We are delighted to support Malawi in strengthening food safety and food standards though this grant, which will contribute to Malawi’s ambitions to grow exports and open up new opportunities globally.” TradeMark CEO David Beer added, “ We commend the Malawi Bureau of Standards’ efforts towards acquiring international accreditation which will in-turn make them a recognized and trusted body. That is a crucial achievement for increased market access of locally manufactured products and an opportunity for cross-border trade growth and export promotion. We are happy to keep supporting this good...

Innovations will facilitate capital flows across borders  Nairobi, 06 December 2022: AfricaNenda and TradeMark Africa (TradeMark) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding committing to collaborate towards creating digital-related solutions that will enhance financial inclusion across Eastern Africa trade environment. Intra-African trade is expected to increase as the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area accelerates; therefore, there is a need for digital innovations that will enhance capital flows across borders to spur trade and wealth creation. TradeMark and AfricaNenda will contribute in this regard, envisioning innovations that will contribute to inclusive, faster, safer, and greener trade and reduce the costs and time of trading across borders for big and small businesses. Specifically, the two organisations will generate ideas and design solutions and projects to increase transparency and accountability in trade transactions, reduce business transaction time and cost, and enhance collaboration and cooperation between government and private sector trade actors.  AfricaNenda Chief Executive Officer Dr. Robert Ochola and TradeMark’s Chief Executive Officer, David Beer, signed the MOU on behalf of their respective organisations.  The MOU signing comes at a time when TradeMark is retrofitting its programming with a big shift towards digitalisation of trade and transport corridors, green corridors, commercialising some of its initiatives and positioning to support the implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area in a wider continental context to enhance continent’s export competitiveness.  TradeMark is best known for contributing to the reduction of time and costs of trading along East Africa’s main trade and transport corridors...

The US$6.2million Project is funded by European Union through the IOM and TradeMark will provide a modern efficient border crossing for cargo and human traffic between DRC and Rwanda, two leading trade partners in the East African region. Ruzizi 2, 23rd November 2022: The construction of the Democratic Republic of Congo Ruzizi 2 One Stop Border Post (OSBP) in Bukavu is set to start, following the project site handover to the project contractor Younjin Construction Inc by the Government of DRC. The OSBP is funded by the European Union (EU) through the International Organisation for Immigration (IOM) and TradeMark Africa (TMA). The project will be undertaken in partnership with the Directorate of General Custom and Excise (DGDA) and Directorate of General Immigration (DGM) and is expected to greatly enhance and ease movement of goods and people between DRC and Rwanda and the Great Lakes Region in general. Ruzizi 2 is mainly used by heavy trucks and small traders destined to and from Bukavu. The border post is characterised by small and old infrastructure and unharmonised procedures that hinder smooth flow of goods and people at the border post. Construction of Ruzizi II OSBP is scheduled to take 10 months to complete and will include among other facilities a main administrative building and facilities for immigration verification, parking for cargo trucks, sanitation facilities, access road and entry and exit gates. Implementation of Integrated Border Management (IBM) will facilitate smooth and efficient cross border movement of goods and people between Rwanda and...

Tunduma, 24 November 2022: Border crossing processes at the Tunduma One Stop Border Post (OSBP), the crossing point between Tanzania-Zambia, have received an efficiency and effectiveness boost following installation of non-intrusive inspection facility for inspection of containerized and breakbulk cargo, as well as fuel tankers. The cargo scanners will replace the physical verification processes of containerized cargo and fuel tankers, thus reducing the long customs verification times – currently 3-4 hours- to minutes. The X-ray Cargo scanners worth US$ 2.692million (approx. TZS 6.222 billion) were funded by the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO Tanzania), Embassy of Ireland and the Norwegian Embassy of Tanzania through TradeMark Africa (TMA). This high energy (7.5MeV) and high throughput (120 trucks per hour) scanner will boost Tanzania Revenue Authority’s effectiveness in controlling imports, exports and transit traffic, improving commodity confirmation and detection of prohibited items and smuggling activities. The better turn-around times and high degree of accuracy will contribute to increased revenue collection, security and efficiency in screening large cargo in a timely and cost-effective manner. Making his remarks at the launching ceremony, The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Planning, said, “The government has been implementing plans to improve the business regulatory environment (Blue Print) in this country, including business across borders with the aim to improve business environment, increase local and international investment and promoting economic growth. The implementation of projects for the construction of OSBP and the purchase and installation of X-ray cargo scanners supported by TMA...

Today the Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development, in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA), delivered hand and walk-through thermal scanners to be installed at Zanzibar’s ports and airports in Unguja and Pemba. Today’s symbolic handover will improve the efficiency of port health officials who will be able to screen both embarking and disembarking passengers. This is part of TradeMark ’s wider support for mitigation measures against the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases, ensuring continuous trade in Eastern and Southern Africa borders under its Safe Trade Emergency Facility Programme. Funded by development partners from the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway through TradeMark, a total of 14 walk through thermal scanners and 305 hand thermal scanners worth USD 297,561, will be distributed and installed at the  ports and airports. Currently, there is ongoing training of Port Health officials on how to maintain and operate the equipment. Present at the handover ceremony, Zanzibar’s Minister of Trade and Industrial Developmen Hon. Omar Shaaban, thanked TradeMark for their support to the Government’s efforts to not only fight COVID-19 but also the outbreak of Ebola and other communicable disease, saying; “. The installation of walkthrough and hand thermal scanners at ports and airports will strengthen our Government’s efforts towards making our borders safe and open for trade. Tourism is the main source of livelihood in Zanzibar,making  frontline workers and the larger Zanzibarian community vulnerable to communicable diseases.Protection of all border personnel and the community at large is paramount.” The procurement of these equipment is...

The Government of Djibouti through the Ministry of Health and the EU-IGAD Covid-19 Response Programme kicked off a vaccination drive targeting truck drivers along the Djibouti-Ethiopia trade corridor. As of November 2022, the daily vaccination rate is approximately 200 truck drivers with over 3,500 drivers vaccinated so far since its kick-off in September 2022. The vaccination exercise is implemented by TradeMark Africa as part of the EU-funded programme launched in 2020 to mitigate the socio-economic impact of the COVID 19 in the IGAD region. The programme aims to administer the Johnson and Johnson vaccine to at least 10,000 truck drivers using the Djibouti & Tadjourah corridors. It also seeks to encourage positive behaviour change for the adoption of preventative health measures aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19. A vaccination point has been set up at Point Kilometer 12 (PK-12), a major truck holding area in the outskirts of Djibouti City. Building on the success of the first vaccination point, the initiative is being extended to the Port of Tadjourah targeting truck drivers using the Balho border. The vaccination will run continuously until  31st December 2022. Dr. Omar Ismael, the Ministry of Health – National Vaccination Coordinator reiterated the Government’s position on the importance of vaccination against COVID-19 saying it is a priority public health and national safety agenda. Ms. Erika Conti, the Project Manager at the EU Delegation to Djibouti and IGAD  said, “This represents a concrete example of how pooling together different partners for a common objective can...

200 small scale women traders are set to benefit from a safe trade zone market space  Addis Ababa, October 20, 2022: Hundreds of traders cross the border between Kenya and Ethiopia in Moyale, usually under the scorching sun. They bring their items in the morning to set up shop on open-air grounds and ferry the same back home in the evening. The weather conditions may remain the same, but the trading environment is set to change. Today, with support from TradeMark Africa (TMA), the local administration held a ground-breaking ceremony marking the start of the construction of a Safe Trade Zone marketplace on the Ethiopian side. The Market will house 200 small-scale women traders from Moyale who sell vegetables and dairy and are currently trading in open-air spaces with no safety, hygiene, or sanitation facilities. The European Union-Intergovernmental Authority on Development (EU-IGAD) and Irish Aid has funded construction of the Market As a permanent building, the structure will be fully furnished with sanitation facilities, market stalls, water systems, solar system, cold storage equipment, prayer room, breastfeeding room, and a power room. Providing elements of social safety systems, such as breast-feeding rooms, will help young female traders to focus on their business and not worry about bringing their children to work. The market will act as an entry point for provision of training to targeted women traders and a catalyst to facilitate business integration amongst the border communities. To provide a wholistic solution and complement the physical space, TMA will work...

This is part of UNBSs US$4.5m decentralisation project where it has set up 3 laboratories in Mbale, Gulu and Mbarara Mbale, 29th Sept 2022: The Uganda National Bureau of Standards (UNBS) Mbale Regional Laboratory was officially launched today by Minister of Trade, Industry and Co-operatives Hon. Francis Mwebesa in a colourful ceremony in Mbale, Eastern Uganda. The minister was accompanied by Danish Deputy Ambassador to Uganda H.E. Henrik Jespersen, UNBS Executive Director David Livingstone Ebiru, TradeMark Africa (TradeMark) East Africa Regional Director John Ulanga among other senior leaders. The Mbale Laboratory is part of three regional laboratories that UNBS has set up outside of the capital in an effort to decentralise its services and make them more accessible to traders. Two other laboratories have been set up in Gulu Northern Uganda launched in July and Mbarara Regional Laboratory scheduled for launch, end of this year. The total cost has been US$ 4.45 million funded by the Government of Denmark through TradeMark Africa. The scope included provision of equipment and consumables for the three regional laboratories as part of decentralisation strategy by UNBS. Speaking during the launch minister Mwebesa said the Mbale Regional Laboratories will enable local businesses in Eastern Uganda to understand and apply standards thus easily accessing markets within Uganda and across borders. “Quality standards are critical in supporting the governments’ industrialization agenda, the Buy Uganda Build Uganda (BUBU) Policy, Imports Substitution, and Exports Promotion Strategies.” noted the Minister. The Mbale Laboratory is expected to benefit among other value...

Berbera 15th Sept: The Berbera Food Laboratory was launched today in a colourful ceremony officiated by Somaliland President H.E. Muse Bihi Abdi along with senior government officials, representatives of the United Kingdom’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and TradeMark Africa (TMA).  The US$ 484, 540 project was funded by FCDO and implemented by Somaliland Quality Control Commission (SQCC) in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA). The project scope included procurement and installation of testing equipment to safeguard food safety in the country. This in turn is expected to boost traded food commodities and exports from Somaliland. The laboratory will undertake chemical and instrumental analysis, micro-biology, physical and chemical analysis of products. The President hailed the new laboratory, the first of its kind in the country as one that will greatly enhance the quality of Somaliland products for both local and international markets. He thanked TMA for their support on the corridor and encouraged the SQCC to make useful of the laboratory equipment. The President called for continued support in human resource development noting that, the aid the country receives was sometimes unmatched by skilled labour causing advanced equipment not to be used due to shortage of skilled labour. The President encouraged the SQCC chair to prioritise training and capacity building to make use of this advance equipment. The President awarded TMA a certificate of good partnership and appreciation to TMA country director Abdi Osman. Speaking at the event SQCC Chairman Mukhtar Mohamed explained that the new laboratories are in line...

To mark an ongoing partnership, the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have today signed a financing agreement worth TZS 9 billion aimed at strengthening frameworks that guide development, enforcement, and implementation of standards, quality management systems, laboratory testing capacity and accreditation. This agreement brings a total support by TMA to TBS at TZS 15.8 billion as TZS 6.8 billion has been invested under phase I to support development of training programme on standards, development of integrated Standards, Quality, Metrology and Testing (iSQMT) and development of National Quality Policy Framework. This ongoing support to TBS aims to increase efficiency at how standards are developed and implemented, and also ensure that the developed standards are enabling trade. The support is by development agencies of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway through TMA. Present at the signing ceremony was Dr. Athuman Y. Ngenya, Director General of TBS and Ms. Monica Hangi, TMA Tanzania Country Director. The second phase of TMA’s support to TBS, that commenced in 2021/22, sets to promote improvement of service delivery through: increased Micro, Small, Medium Enterprises awareness and compliance to Standards and Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures; development and implementation of standardization and accreditation frameworks; improved quality infrastructure platforms; and implementation of National Quality Policy. In her statement during the signing ceremony Ms. Monica Hangi said ‘’Businesses in Tanzania still face challenges in complying to Standards and SPS measures, largely due to low awareness and high compliance costs, limiting their potential in exploiting regional and...