The Zanzibar Bureau of Standards (ZBS) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have today signed a financing agreement worth TZS 1 billion aimed at increasing efficiency and effectiveness of ZBS in the development and implementation of standards in Zanzibar. The agreement is funded by development agencies of the United Kingdom, Ireland and Norway through TMA. Present at the signing ceremony was Mr. Yusuph Majid, Director General of ZBS and Ms. Monica Hangi, TMA Tanzania Country Director. The funding will support ZBS efforts towards tackling challenges that include limited-service delivery mechanisms and delays in conducting and issuing testing results for products that have in the past led to delays, and therefore increasing the cost of trading. Currently, ZBS functions are manual and paper-based making it cumbersome for traders to receive required certifications on time leading to further delays. Part of the funding will be used for development of an Integrated Standardization and Quality Management Information System (iSQMS) that will automate key ZBS processes; and a capacity building training programme on standardization and quality assurance for private sector stakeholders especially Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to increase their awareness and adoption of standards. In addition, TMA will also support an accreditation and standardization programme that will aim to support ZBS with domestication of regionally harmonized standards and have its processes, systems, and labs accredited. Speaking on the agreement, TMA Tanzania Country Director Ms. Monica Hangi said, “TradeMark Africa extends its commitment to supporting trade, through improving quality and standards of products produced and...

The Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) has this morning launched a Single Window Information for Trade (SWIFT) effectively automating all its services. The US$ 125,000 project was financed by USAID Rwanda through TradeMark Africa. The automation is expected to drastically reduce the time and cost of seeking various services from the board by the business community and other clients due to shift from the manual system that required many physical visits to the board. Among the new and enhanced services now available online are applications for System Certification, Training, Made in Rwanda Logo, Calibration of Instruments, Sample Testing, Lab Designation, Various Licenses and Authorization to Break Seal. Other services now available online are Verification of Certificates issued by RSB, Purchase of Rwanda Standards and Integration to the EAC Bureaus of Standards Information Sharing Platforms. Speaking during the launch event, RSB Director General Raymond Murenzi hailed the automation noting that clients seeking various standards services from the board will now do so at a click of a button. “Today everyone, from wherever they are, can access and buy a standard, request for any of our services, be able to monitor the progress of their application and get the service fully offered. This an outstanding addition to the performance of our systems, and an incredible gain in the journey towards realizing our endeavours to be a trusted party in delivering standards-based and customer-suited solutions that contribute in the country’s socio-economic development” noted Murenzi. USAID Rwanda Head of Economic Growth Unit Amy Beeler speaking...

Busia, 2nd December, 2021…The Government of Kenya through the Ministries of Health (MOH) and the East African Community (MEAC), has today kicked off a vaccination drive targeting cross border women traders and long-distance truck drivers along four border entry points. The vaccination exercise funded by DANIDA and the European Union through TradeMark Africa and  supported by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) as implementing partners will start at the Busia One Stop Border Post and roll out to the Malaba, Isebania and Taveta border entry points over the next two months. The programme aims to administer the Johnson & Johnston (J&J) vaccine to at least 40,500 individuals involved in the logistics and cross border trade sectors along the border regions. It also seeks to encourage positive behaviour change for the adoption of preventative health measures aimed at mitigating the spread of COVID-19. Dr. Lucy Mecca, the Vaccine Quality and Supply Manager at the National Vaccines Immunization Program, while speaking at the kickoff, reiterated the Government’s position on the importance of vaccination against COVID-19 saying it is a priority public health and national safety agenda. “The vaccines that we are deploying are safe and they are the best bet in preventing severe infection, hospitalization and possible death due to COVID-19. We are cognizant of the exposure that the traders and truck drivers encounter in their daily interactions, and we encourage everyone to get vaccinated and to also adhere to the COVID-19 health protocols of masking at all times, social distancing, as...

Mombasa, 30 November 2021 The Port of Mombasa has today received a major boost following the ground-breaking and commissioning of Mbaraki and Kipevu roads respectively, thanks to a partnership between the UK Government, Kenya Ports Authority, and the County Government of Mombasa. The two roads which form critical arteries to and from the Port of Mombasa are expected to improve connectivity thereby enhancing efficiency and seamless movement of cargo from the port through the northern corridor. The completed Kipevu road cost a total of Ksh. 2.04 billion with Kenya Ports Authority funding the project to a tune of Ksh. 1.5 billion shillings and the UK Government through TradeMark Africa (TMA) contributing Ksh. 520 million shillings to the project. It is estimated that Kipevu road will reduce the time taken through Gate 18/20 from 5.8 days before road construction to an average of 30 minutes in 2020. Similarly, the Mbaraki Road attracted funding to the tune of approx. Ksh. 403million by the UK Government and Ksh.96Million by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) for design and construction and catalyzed a contribution of Ksh.44.6million from the County Government of Mombasa. Once complete, Mbaraki road will reduce truck turn around time from CFS to port from 8 hours to less than half that time. The UK High Commissioner H.E Jane Marriott, Mombasa County Governor H.E Ali Hassan Joho, State Department of East Africa Community P.S Kevit Desai, TMA CEO Frank Matsaert and the KPA Acting Managing Director Ambassador John Mwangemi graced the events which...

TradeMark Africa with project implementing partner Horn of Africa Voluntary Youth Committee (HAVOYOCO), project donors European Union-IGAD (EU-IGAD) and Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office of the UK (FCDO) have today launched the US$206,000. The guest of honour at the event was Somali Regional State President H.E. Mustife Mohammed accompanied by State Minister for Women and Social Affairs in Ethiopia H.E Alemitu Omuit accompanied by other senior government officials. The modern physical markets for informal women traders in Ethiopia’s border town has been constructed with key health provisions and features to ensure enhanced safe trading and hygiene in light of the prevailing COVID-19 pandemic. State President H.E. Mustife Mohammed hailed the markets as an innovation anticipated to have great impact on the women traders. “These markets will ensure an enhanced and safe environment of our women traders to continue with their businesses and retain their livelihoods despite the continuing Covid related interruptions. Informal women traders constitute a significant portion of regional trade across our borders, and it is our government’s policy support them in their work” said H.E. Mustife Mohammed. State Minister of Women & social Affairs, H.E Alemitu Omuit appreciated all actors who joined hands in the construction of the market and outlined the importance of this market in the realization of women’s empowerment especially for women involved in the cross-border trade, she also put her remark as “with this new market, women can have access to safe working space, knowledge and skill and learn from one another. The government...

As part of the EU-IGAD Covid-19 response, regional trade facilitation agency TradeMark Africa (TMA) has this morning handed over Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) worth US$ 106K to the Government of Djibouti to sustain momentum in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and protect the health and well-being of people in Djibouti. The handover was done at the Djibouti port, which is a key trade facility handling 8 million tonnes of cargo annually. The PPEs have also been delivered to border officials at the Guellileh border and will also be delivered to the Galafi border, key transit trade points with Ethiopia. Today’s PPE’s delivery will cover the needs of 1000 Ports Authority staff, Port Police, Revenue Authority staff, Port health staff and sustain them for 120 days. The 1000 staff were prioritised as they are the first responders and most vulnerable dealing with port health, first aiders and handling of cargo as it arrives.  The PPE’s include hand sanitisers, liquid disinfectant, infrared thermometer, full protective coveralls, face masks, gloves and face shields. The delivery to the Port of Djibouti is critical and strategic as the port is the main entry point into the Horn of Africa serving Ethiopia, Somaliland and South Sudan. The equipment presented today will enhance the safety and working condition of front-line workers in key borders, which are critical arteries of trade in and out of Djibouti and her neighbours. Among the borders where the PPE will be distributed is Galafi. Rossella Monti, Senior Project Manager, UNOPS Programme...

Zanzibar, 28th September 2021: The Ministry of Trade and Industrial Development, in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA), delivered Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to be distributed to frontline workers in Zanzibar. This is part of TradeMark Africa’s wider support for mitigation measures against the spread of COVID-19 and continuous trade in Eastern and Southern Africa borders under its Safe Trade Emergency Facility Programme. Today’s symbolic handover will cover the needs of customs, immigration, security, and port health officials in Zanzibar for a period of 6 months. On his part, Principal Secretary Dr. Islam Seif Salum thanked TradeMark Africa for their support to the government’s efforts to fight COVID-19, further saying; “. The PPEs being handed over to the border officials will strengthen our government’s measures of making our borders safe and open for trade. Given the vulnerability and exposure of the frontline workers to the virus, protection of all border personnel is paramount in ensuring they work in safe and optimal working conditions so that trade continues uninterrupted.” The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), Ireland and Norway are funding Tanzania’s component of the TMA Safe Trade Emergency Facility (STEF) programme with a contribution of TZS 208,350,000(USD 90,000). Distribution of PPE is a key component of TMA’s Safe Trade Emergency Facility (STEF) programme, that was launched to respond to the rapid spread of the COVID-19 pandemic which has hit Eastern and Southern Africa’s border crossing points, causing some of the worst disruptions in history. The usually busy land borders...

The equipment raises National Export Development Board’s capacity to sort high grade coffee to 64-80 Metric Tonnes (Four 40-foot containers) which is 48 times previous capacity. Currently there are 400,000 small holder coffee farmers exporting 21,000 metric tonnes of coffee in 2020, earning the country US$ 50.2 million Kigali 21st Sept: The capacity to sort and grade high quality coffee for lucrative export markets through the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) has been raised many times-fold following acquisition of modern Coffee Sorting and Grading Machines and accessories. The equipment includes machines worth US$ 1.159 million funded by United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through regional trade agency TradeMark Africa. The Government of the Kingdom of the Netherlands provided coffee sorting tables worth US$217,000 also through TradeMark Africa. The project was implemented in partnership with the National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) with the new equipment located at its warehouses in Kigali. Speaking during the equipment launch today, NAEB Chief Executive Officer Claude Bizimana said the equipment raises current capacity by to 48 times. “With the modern equipment we will be able to sort and grade 64-80 Metric Tonnes per day which will fill up to four 40-foot containers, which is 48 times our current capacity. The huge capacity will greatly benefit the 32 coffee producer co-operatives that we serve. Previously it took a team of 35 workers, 12 days to sort and grade one container of coffee” noted Bizimana. This he explained would reduce the time-lag between client...

Lomé, 17th September 2021: Today, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat and TradeMark Africa (TMA), aimed at promoting cooperation and collaboration between the two organisations in their common goal of supporting trade in Africa. The MoU was signed in Lomé, Togo, by His Excellency Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, and Frank Matsaert, Chief Executive Officer at TMA. The AfCFTA and TMA are united in their shared goal of increasing prosperity in Africa through the liberalisation of trade on the continent. This MoU represents the next logical step for the two organisations as they work to increase the ease and standards of trade across Africa; support engagement with the continent’s private sector on trade and economic development issues; digitisation of key trade processes at a national level, followed by linking these at a regional level and policies to promote the use of e-commerce across the continent; and develop regional value chains and investment while developing Africa’s cross-border trade with a particular focus on women traders, youth and MSMEs. The Agreement will also allow the two organisations to share costs and support each other in logistical challenges as they seek to implement programmes to develop trade across Africa. His Excellency Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the AfCFTA, said: “The MoU will further allow the AfCFTA Secretariat working with partners including TMA to facilitate State Parties to carry out the necessary reforms needed to fully implement the AfCFTA, unlocking the continent’s trade potential...

East Africa Tourism Platform (EATP) Headquarters, Kigali, Rwanda. September 8, 2021. The East Africa Tourism Platform has launched a three-month campaign dubbed "Tembea Nyumbani", in the East African Community (EAC) Partner States.Tembea Nyumbani, Swahili for Visit Home, is a call to the citizens of the countries in the East African Community to visit each other's countries — in an effort to promote domestic and regional tourism business in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda. In the spirit of East African unity, the tourism body is drawing wisdom from the popular adage that as an East African, any East African country you travel to is a home away from home. Undertaken in partnership with stakeholders, the campaign will promote different tourist packages within the region. The campaign aims to spur tourism business within the region by showcasing the many hidden gems as well as affordable and exciting holiday packages that can be explored in what the world has come to know as Africa's magical destinations. It is expected that an increase in interest to travel within the region will revive the tourism industry, which is a lifeline for millions of people. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the tourism sector had become one of the most lucrative, but the pandemic brought it to its knees. As uptake of vaccines increases and recovery efforts start, many nations are cooperating to revive tourism. Before Covid-19, tourism contributed to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of EAC Partner States by an average of 9.5% in 2019. It...