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...

09th Sept. Kigali: Two hundred and forty-six (246) Clearing and freight forwarding professionals have today attained the East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarding Practising Certificate in a colourful graduation ceremony held in Kigali Rwanda. The professional course, offered under the apex freight body, Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA) in collaboration with East African Revenue Authorities and the EAC Directorate of Customs and with financial support from TradeMark Africa, aims at cutting down transport and logistics costs as well as cargo-time along key trade corridors, which constitute a significant part of trade costs in the region. Equipping freight logistics industry professionals with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitudes enable them to clear cargo more efficiently and effectively. In Rwanda, the course is managed in a partnership with the Rwanda Revenue Authority and the Rwanda Freight Forwarders Association under supervision of the National Curriculum Implementation Committee (NCIC). EACFFPC was adopted as an East African Community course as an intervention under our private sector logistics programme implemented by the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA). Speaking during the graduation ceremony the Chief Guest, Rwanda Revenue Authority Commissioner of Custom Services Felicien Mwumvaneza hailed the course as a great trade enabler for the region as well as enhancing prospects for professionals in the industry.  “The certification opens doors for advancement in multiple sectors, including RRA functions, private sector within Rwanda and the region. I believe you will take advantage of these opportunities” said Mwumvaneza. Congratulating the graduating cohort, TradeMark...

Nairobi 25th August: Regional trade facilitation organisation TradeMark Africa has this morning signed a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Agricultural and Bioscience International (CABI) to cement collaboration and working together for the organisations to promote to enhance market access for regional produce. The two organisations have collaborated since 2017 to implement various Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary Measures (SPS) projects across East Africa in, among other areas, conducting studies on SPS Gaps in the region and tools to remedy the situation. At a time when SPS issues are significant non-tariff barriers blocking regional produce from lucrative continental and global markets, TMA and CABI will now jointly support strengthening of national SPS systems, engagement with Regional Economic Communities and support AfCFTA implementation specifically the Protocol on Trade in Goods and Annex 7 on Sanitary and Phytosanitary measures. Speaking during the MOU signing TMA CEO Frank Matsaert highlighted the immense potential the region’s agricultural sector holds, if risks in food safety, plant health and animal health are addressed “We look forward to working together in improving the safety of agricultural goods coming from this continent to the rest of the world to enhance market access. We will also bring our expertise of tapping into ICT to modernize how Standards and SPS licensing and regulation is undertaken for efficiency” On his part CABI Director for General Development Dr Dennis Rangi noted that the two organisations will create great synergies in SPS work which is a key catalyst to trade. “The coming...

Diplomate chevronné et professionnel du développement, ancien haut-commissaire du Royaume-Uni, conseiller auprès des conseils d'administration de la Banque mondiale et du FMI pour diriger l'une des plus grandes institutions d'aide au commerce au monde Nairobi, 31 Août, 2022 : M. David Beer a été nommé nouveau PDG de TradeMark Africa (TMA) et succède M. Frank Matsaert, PDG fondateur de TMA. Il prendra ses fonctions à partir du 1er septembre 2022 et sera basé à Nairobi, siège de TMA. David Beer a récemment terminé sa période de service en tant que haut-commissaire du Royaume-Uni (UK) au Malawi. Le conseil d'administration de TMA a mené un processus de sélection rigoureux pour sélectionner un PDG ayant une solide expérience avec un lien entre l'aide pour le commerce, le service public et la diplomatie, les multilatéraux et le développement, le positionnant pour assurer la continuité de l'objectif de l’institution. M. Beer a plus de 20 ans d'expérience internationale dans ces secteurs. Il a précédemment représenté le Royaume-Uni, conseillant les directeurs exécutifs britanniques respectifs auprès des conseils d'administration de la Banque mondiale et du Fonds monétaire international dans des domaines tels que la gestion des risques institutionnels, la programmation adaptative et le financement des risques de catastrophe, ainsi que la gestion macroéconomique et la programmation du développement. Son expérience s'appuie sur de nombreuses années d'efforts de développement de premier plan pour le gouvernement britannique et d'autres organisations à travers l'Afrique, y compris l'Ouganda, le Soudan, le Burundi et le Ghana. Beer rejoint TMA à un...

Senior diplomat and development professional, former United Kingdom High Commissioner, adviser at World Bank and IMF boards to lead one of the world’s largest Aid for Trade institutions Nairobi, August 31, 2022: Mr. David Beer has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for TradeMark Africa (TMA), and succeeds Mr. Frank Matsaert, TMA’s founding CEO. He will assume the position from 1st September 2022 and will be based in Nairobi, TMA’s headquarters. David Beer has recently completed his tour as High Commissioner for the United Kingdom (UK) in Malawi. The TMA Board conducted a rigorous selection process to select a CEO with strong experience of the nexus of aid for trade, Governments and diplomacy, multilaterals, and development, positioning him to provide continuity of purpose.  Mr. Beer has over 20 years’ senior international experience within these sectors. He previously represented the UK, advising respective UK Executive Directors to the Boards of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund on areas such as institutional risk management, adaptive programming and disaster risk financing, alongside macro-economic management and development programming. This builds on many years of leading development efforts for the British Government and other organisations across Africa, including Uganda, Sudan, Burundi, and Ghana. Mr. Beer joins TMA at a time when the organisation is expanding to the rest of Africa and scaling up support for the implementation of Africa Continental Free Trade Agreement. TMA has innovated its programming to not only reduce trade barriers through improved transportation and logistics systems, digitalisation of...

Mchinji, 5th August 2022…. The Government of Malawi through the Ministry of Trade and Industry today held a sensitization workshop at the Mchinji - Mwami One Stop Border Post (OSBP) aimed at creating awareness about the new One Stop Border Post (OSBP) to the community and economic operators in the district and beyond. Supported by TradeMark Africa through funding from the United Kingdom’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office, the workshop was led by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Ms Christina Zakeyo, senior officials from the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MoTI) and the Malawi Revenue Authority (MRA). Participants, including border officials, District Council members, religious leaders, village elders and various border community members were sensitized on how an OSBP operates, its efficiencies and expectations on cooperation. Further, the speakers outlined the benefits of the OSBP to Malawi’s trade development prospects and the resultant socio-economic development of communities around the border and the economy as a whole. Speaking at the workshop, the Director of Trade at the Ministry for Trade and Industry, Ms Charity Musonzo said: “This OSBP will significantly change the way of doing business at the border by improving cross-border trade; free movement of people and enhancing trade facilitation in general, thereby further accelerating Malawi’s trade integration of the regional and world markets. Under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), we are exposed to a market of over 1.2 billion people and a combined gross domestic product (GDP) of more than US$2.5 trillion across Africa. This OSBP...

Nairobi, June 2nd 2022: Her Royal Highness the Queen of England has today conferred TradeMark Africa (TMA) Chief Executive Officer, Frank Matsaert the Order of the British Empire (MBE) his trail blazing work in Trade and Economic Development in East Africa. On receiving the news, Frank noted that the award represents the collective work that has been accomplished by working closely with TMA key stakeholders. “I am deeply honoured by the Queen and UK Government for this recognition of TradeMark Africa’s work in supporting trade and economic development in Eastern Africa over the last twelve years. It has been a privilege and an honour to found and lead such a dynamic and impactful organisation.”  As the founding CEO of TMA, Mr. Matsaert, has steered the organisation to grow from a modest budget of US$ 42 million in 2010 to approximately US$1.2Billion by April this year.  The organisation has experienced robust growth over the decade to become the leading Aid for Trade agency globally, with remarkable results in reducing the time and costs of trading across EAC; through investments at the Port of Mombasa, 15 completed One Stop Border Posts across the EAC region, Customs systems at Uganda Revenue Authority, Kenya Revenue Authority, Burundi Revenue Authority and Rwanda Revenue Authority. Mr. Matsaert’ s vision has led TMA to partner with governments across the region to lay the building blocks for a digital trade and transport corridor. Starting out in only 5 countries in East Africa, TMA has grown to spread her footprint...

12th April 2022, Nairobi: Transport and transit information along the Northern Corridor is now available at a touch of a button following the launch of the Northern Corridor Transport Observatory Portal by the Northern Corridor Transit and Transport Coordination Authority (NCTTCA) today. The automation of the portal will dramatically improve development and increase access of various metrics needed by policy makers to facilitate to better transit, trade facilitation and cooperation between NCTTFA Member States. It was funded by UKAID, USAID and Denmark through TradeMark Africa at a cost of US$ 1.15 million. The Transport Observatory houses 48 key indicators grouped into six categories displaying; trade volumes and capacity, transit times and delays, transport costs and rates, efficiency and productivity, Green House Gas emissions and Intra-regional trade. Users will also be able to access newsletters and weekly performance trackers such as weekly, monthly, quarterly, bi-annual and annual reports and Green House Gas emission updates. Also available is the Geographic Information System (GIS) module that allows users to view the status of various infrastructure along the Northern Corridor including border posts and weigh bridges. Prior to the now automated portal NCTTCA and policy makers relied on manual collection and verification of data that was costly and time consuming, resulting in delayed resolution of issues and publication of various reports. The system lacked modern features such as Geographic Information System (GIS) lowering the ability to easily filter information based on location. Speaking at the launch event, NCTCCA Executive Secretary CPA Omae NYARANDI said,...

Addis Ababa, April 6th, 2022: Today, Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Sectoral Associations (ECCSA), launched the Ethiopian Chamber Digital Service (ECDS), a digital system that enables the chamber to provide its services online to its members, the business community and the public at large. Irish Aid Ethiopia through TradeMark Africa (TMA) funded the development of ECDS; with the support channelled to supply the ICT infrastructure and software development. ECDS will move ECCSA services from manual and physical visit to digitized services in which traders get trade facilitation services at their convenient time and place, specially enabling ECCSA and its members to register their members online.  Moreover, it paves a way for companies to get registered and renew membership online and pay fees electronically. Ultimately, the electronic system contributes to the ease of doing business in Ethiopia by enabling traders to easily fulfil requirements and reduce transaction costs of trade. In addition to trade facilitation and membership management, ECDS has automated trade and investment promotion service, chamber academy, identifying Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), legal counselling and arbitration services, putting in one place key trade information for ease of access and dissemination. It becomes a single source for chamber services with lesser cost and time. ECDS is integrated to the Ethiopia Electronic Single Window System (EeSWS), and telebirr to further enhance the issuance of the Certificate of Origin and other trade facilitation. Presiding over the launch, his excellency Ato G/Meskel Chala, Minister of Trade and Regional Integration said ‘’ECCSA is highly appreciated to...

Mombasa, 31st March, 2022: East African Tea Trade Association (EATTA) announced the automation of the Mombasa Tea Auction by unveiling the Integrated Tea Trading System (iTTS).  The Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) -through TradeMark Africa- funded the USD 2Million digital platform. The importance of automation has been amplified by current efforts to mitigate the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region and facilitate safe trade. The Mombasa Tea Auction is the world’s largest black CTC tea auction for export.  Each week, teas worth over US$20 million are traded from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Malawi, Madagascar, Mozambique and Ethiopia. Tea is one of the top export foreign exchange earners for Kenya, generating US$1.14 billion in 2021, and with more than 55 per cent of teas sold at the auction originating from small holder farmers, the auction is an important lynchpin in the industry, as well as the economy more broadly. The Integrated Tea Trading System (iTTS) project has automated the manual processes along the tea value chain. This covers the dispatch of made tea from the factory, receiving of the tea by the Warehouse, cataloguing and offering the tea for sale by the Broker, buying of the tea and paying for it by the buyer and the finally collecting the bought tea from the warehouse. The introduction of the automated trading platform sought to remedy the limitations in the old manual set-up, such as the lack of in-depth consolidated auction statistics, and limitation...