Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, July 8th 2021 – Traders in Tanzania stand to benefit from increased efficiency following launch of the Trade Information Portal in Tanzania (www.tantrade.go.tz), which has consolidated more than 100 documents and procedures required for import and export business in Tanzania on one online platform. The portal is estimated to serve at least 1.5 million users per month and publishes information on 84 procedures made up of 336 steps, 851 forms and documents, 140 contact persons, 88 norms and laws. It covers 11 priority product groups (6 products for export and import, thus ensuring a shorter period in the export and import processes.  Completion and launch of the information portal make Tanzania the fourth country in the East Africa Community (EAC) to fulfil Article 1 of WTO Trade Facilitation agreement which requires member states to publish their trade procedures online, displaying them step-by-step, with contact information on enquiry points, access to forms and other required documents and all relevant trade and customs laws. Tanzania Trade Development Authority (TanTrade), Business Registrations and Licensing Agency (BRELA) under the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT) implemented the portal with financial support of approximately US$ 498,000 from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through TradeMark Africa (TMA). United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) provided technical assistance. Presiding over the launch, the Zanzibar Minister for Industry and Trade, Hon. Omar Shaban (MP) said, “The Tanzania trade portal is part of the Government’s initiative to facilitate trade in line with...

…Implementation of the Maritime Single Window makes Kenya compliant with the Facilitation of International Maritime Traffic (FAL) Convention … Mombasa Kenya July 7, 2021 – The maritime stakeholders in Kenya will benefit from enhanced efficiency at the Port of Mombasa following the launch of the Maritime Single Window System (MSWS). The system will facilitate end-to-end information flow between the Shipping Agents, Port Authority, as well as other government agencies. The MSWS which was officially launched on July 07, 2021, in Mombasa by the Cabinet Secretary, The National Treasury & Planning Hon. Ambassador Ukur Yatani was developed jointly by Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) and the Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) with financial support from UK’s Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office (FCDO) and Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) through TradeMark Africa (TMA). The Project now makes Kenya compliant with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Facilitation of International Maritime (FAL) Convention. The FAL Convention contains standards, recommended practices and rules for simplifying formalities, documentary requirements and procedures on ships' arrival, stay and departure and recommends the use of the “single window” concept in which all the agencies and authorities involved in ship and passenger clearance exchange data via a single point of contact. The MSWS which has been developed by CrimsonLogic, has been integrated with KenTrade’s Single Window System (Kenya TradeNet) which covers the vessel arrival and departure process of both cargo and non-cargo vessels, facilitates the processing of all associated documentation for a quicker turnaround time in handling maritime traffic. This translates...

TDB and TMA will work together towards developing trade supportive infrastructure in the region; Institutions will collaborate on supporting information technology innovations in trade, logistics and transportation; Via trade, institutions will contribute to combatting the effects of the COVID- 19 Nairobi, 18 June 2021 – TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the Eastern and Southern African Trade & Development Bank (TDB) have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that establishes a framework for collaboration ultimately seeking to boost trade in the region served by both institutions. By leveraging the two institutions’ expertise in project development and finance, TMA and TDB will endeavour to jointly pursue targeted investments in trade logistics and production systems, including roads, ports and industrial parks projects, and to facilitate structured trade finance transactions of commodities. Moreover, institutions will work to collaborate in carrying-out analytical and advisory services aiming, among other things, to support the digitization of trade and investment processes as well as information technology innovations in trade, logistics and transportation. Additionally, the MoU provides for the facilitation of innovation and capacity development for regional businesses, so as to enable them to effectively engage in global and regional trade transactions with high development impact. The agreement will also enable TMA and TDB to jointly contribute to mitigating the adverse effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the region, via enhanced regional trade, trade supportive infrastructure, and digitalization of trade. Speaking during the MoU signing TMA Chairman Amb. Erastus Mwencha hailed the collaboration as one that will greatly support...

Kenya-Ethiopia Government officials met today and commenced Moyale One Stop Border Post (OSBP) operations, raising hopes to bolster trade and cooperation between the two nations Once operationalized, Moyale One-Stop Border Post will be the first of its kind in Ethiopia and the fifth for Kenya with other operational OSBPs being Busia, Malaba, Namanga and Taveta. The Governments with a grant from Africa Development Bank put up the physical infrastructure component, and with funding from the United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) through TradeMark Africa, supported the Integrated Border Management component. The two components are the fundamentals that enable coordinated and efficient OSBP operations 8th June 2021, Moyale: Today marks the start of Moyale Border operating as a One Stop Border Post (OSBP), as the Government border regulatory officials from Kenya and Ethiopia came together to commence operations. This means that, the border regulatory officials clearing traffic, cargo and persons from both Ethiopia and Kenya will now physically relocate and sit side by side on either side of the border, where they will undertake exit and entry formalities in a joint and/or sequenced manner. The officials conducted site visits and inspection of border facilities as part of the OSBP operations commencement process. The move follows the official launch of Moyale OSBP in December 2020, by H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia. This move is a step closer to achieving the goal of exponentially boosting trade between the two neighbouring nations, as...

Maputo, 18th May 2021: The Mozambique Revenue Authority (MRA), in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA), has delivered Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) which will be distributed to border authorities at the Mozambiquan and South African border of Ressano Garcia/ Lebombo. The delivery was witnessed by H.E. Taurai Tsama, Mozambique’s Customs Director General, H.E. Mrs. Nuala O’Brien, Ambassador of Ireland to Mozambique, and Mrs. Sarah Love, Deputy Director of Development at the British High Commission in Mozambique. The equipment provided include hand sanitizers, liquid hand washing soap, infrared thermometer, re-usable safety boots, full protective PPE, , reusable masks, plastic face shield, disposable gloves, hand sanitiser dispensers and disinfectant spray bottles 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 at Mozambique borders. Speaking at the ceremony, Sarah Love, Deputy Development Director at the British High Commission in Maputo said: “The UK is funding TMA in Mozambique and Malawi through the Safe Trade programme which is partnering with the Revenue Authority to implement measures to ensure that safe trade can continue during this COVID-19 pandemic. UK funding of £200,000 has enabled the purchase of Personal Protective Equipment for customs and border officials and the development of a joint emergency response to COVID-19 at these locations. This support will ensure a safe working environment for border...

Mchinji, 7th May, 2021 The UK Government in partnership with TradeMark Africa on Friday 7th May 2021 officially handed over quarantine and screening facilities in key border posts of Mwanza, Dedza and Songwe and Mchinji borders to the Malawi Ministry of Health to support its capacity and fight against COVID-19. These facilities will meet the needs of hundreds of travellers at key Malawi border stations and border officials to include: Port Health staff, Malawi Revenue Authority staff by providing safe COVID-19 screening and isolation areas. The facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art supplies that will help in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic and other public health challenges at the border stations, thereby ensuring safety of border users and frontline personnel during the pandemic and beyond but also ultimately enabling undisrupted flow of goods and services across the key borders. The symbolic handover ceremony of all facilities took place at Mchinji border post and was graced by Malawi’s Minister of Health Hon Khumbize Kandodo Chiponda, British High Commissioner David Beer and TMA Malawi Ag Country Director, Myra Deya. The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) is funding Malawi’s component of TMA’s Safe Trade Emergency Facility (STEF) programme with a contribution of MWK 400m (GBP 0.5m). It’s under this programme that the quarantine facilities handover has been made as part FCDO’s wider support for mitigation against the spread of COVID-19 and promotion of continuous safe trade in Malawi. Other interventions conducted under the Malawi STEF Programme included distribution of Personal...

TradeMark E.A and FSD Africa have partnered to launch a ground-breaking report on the trade finance landscape in East Africa and the Horn of Africa region. The report titled ‘Trade Finance Landscape in East Africa and Horn of Africa: Barriers, opportunities& potential interventions to drive uptake’ has highlighted limited access to trade finance as a key barrier hindering the region from playing a more significant role in global commerce. Whereas Africa comprises for 17% of the global population for instance, it only accounts for just 1.8% of global trade exports and 2.1% of global trade imports as per 2018 data. Of all sub-regions of the continent, East Africa continue to post the lowest total export trade in goods and services compared to other sub-regions, demanding concerted actions by all actors. Speaking during the launch of the report TradeMark CEO Frank Matsaert noted that the report provided a good starting point in tackling key challenges limiting the regions performance in global trade ‘The low intra-regional trade in Africa is because trading activities across the continent are inhibited, For SMEs in particular by limited access to finance but also due to high export costs, political instability, poor infrastructure and high taxation’ he observed. The study focussed on three priority sectors namely, agriculture, construction and textiles& garments and found key barriers to uptake exist both at ecosystem and trade finance provision level, underscoring the importance of holistic interventions for meaningful impact. FSD Director for Credit Markets Jared Osoro, called for a comprehensive address...

The British Ambassador, Kate Foster, visited Hargeisa this week to reaffirm the strength of the UK’s partnership with Somaliland including in the trade and development sector. In her first visit to Somaliland since her appointment in February, Ms. Foster joined President Muse Bihi in launching the main construction phase of the 22.5 km Hargeisa bypass. The UK-supported bypass will reduce the time and cost of transporting goods between Berbera Port and landlocked Ethiopia by addressing a strategic chokepoint on the Berbera corridor. In the construction phase, particular attention will be paid to climate proofing, ensuring the road is built to last. Protection of local heritage is also a key consideration, recognising the road’s proximity to the iconic Nasa Hablood hills – the symbol of Hargeisa city. The corridor is already facilitating the delivery of much-needed humanitarian assistance to vulnerable communities in the wider region. The World Food Programme uses Berbera to bring 65% of its food aid into Ethiopia. With Ethiopia’s trade volumes projected to continue expanding, Berbera also represents an alternative for increasing trade and prosperity in the Horn of Africa. The continued development of the Berbera corridor will ensure that ordinary people from across Somaliland will benefit from inclusive economic development. Future UK support will focus on more efficient cross border trade between Somaliland and Ethiopia including through the use of one-stop border posts, cargo tracking systems and efficient regulation at the border. At the launch event, Somaliland President, Muse Bihi, said: “I would like to thank the UK and partners for their role in investing...

Dar es Salaam, 30th April 2021: Today, the Ministry of Industry and Trade through Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS) launched a system that automates the standardisation and quality control of products and services provided by the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), the National Standards body. The system is named the “Integrated Standards, Quality Assurance, Metrology and Testing” (iSQMT) system. At the same time, TBS unveiled an online system for conducting trainings to stakeholders, named the e-Learning Portal. The two systems were developed by TBS and TradeMark Africa (TMA). Foreign Commonwealth Development Office, Ireland, and Norway funded the development of these systems with a contribution of US$600,000 for the iSQMT portal and US$350,000 for the e-learning platform. Through iSQMT, TBS has automated the following core processes: standards development, product certification, system certification, import inspection, metrology and testing. iSQMT has been integrated to the eGovernment payment gateway platforms which guarantees fully automated processes from application, payment and acquisition of the final product (certificate/permit). Some of the expected benefits are a reduction in time and transaction costs as stakeholders will no longer need to visit TBS offices for services related to standards and quality control, training, collection of permits and certificates. TBS predicts to significantly reduce incidences of loss and duplication of records since all the information required to process requests from stakeholders will be hosted within one system. The data collected via the system will inform better decision making in the regulation and administration of TBS processes. E-Learning Portal Part of TBS...

Maputo, 3rd May: The Mozambique Revenue Authority (MRA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with TradeMark Africa (TMA) paving the way for TMA expansion into Mozambique. The agreement was signed by the AT Director General of Planning, Studies and International Cooperation, Dr. Augusto Paulo Tacarindua, and TMA Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Frank Matsaert. TMA aims to collaborate with AT: in the establishment of commercial systems and procedures to support the effective and efficient clearance and transit of goods; in the implementation of measures to ensure safe trade at the borders with neighbouring countries through provision of PPEs; in the dissemination of Southern African Development Community (SADC) COVID-19 operational guidelines; strengthening the joint border committee framework; and raising awareness among border agencies and cross border women traders. Furthermore, TMA will replicate its success in contributing to the ease of trading across borders and through its Safe Trade Emergency Facility (Safe Trade) program, support the Government of Mozambique to undertake critical measures along the transport and trade routes that will ensure trade continues safely while protecting livelihoods. TMA CEO Frank Matsaert noted, “We are excited with this new phase of growth that adds an important country and economy into our operations. Our programme will contribute to improved trading environment for Mozambique with its trading partners on key corridors, which as a result, will propel Mozambique into a leading economy and grow prosperity for its citizens.” TMA’s Mozambique programme will be designed to deliver maximum value for money and effectiveness. It will draw...