The Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo and TradeMark Africa (TMA) signed a contract to begin construction of the One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) at Mahagi in Ituri Province, on the border with Uganda on April 16, 2020.  The estimated nine-month project is co-financed by the Netherlands, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and the British Department for International Development (DFID).  The works will be carried out by COIL limited. The kick-off meeting was held online on April 30, 2020 due to the precautionary measures related to COVID-19.  A ground-breaking ceremony will be held as soon as the situation allows.  COIL limited has begun mobilising the necessary staff and resources to start construction work soon. Mahagi (DRC)/Goli (Uganda) is one of DR Congo’s busiest border crossings, located at the axis linking the popular centres of Arua (Uganda), Bunia (DRC), Kisangani (DRC) and the port of Mombasa (Kenya) along the Northern Corridor. OSBPs reduce transit time and costs for cross-border movements by integrating Customs processes of border agencies of two neighbouring countries in one place without increasing risks to public security or revenues collection. Transiting users stop once in the destination country for customs clearance, entry and exit processes. In 2019, TMA supported the construction and initiation of One-Stop Border Posts across 7 border crossing points in the East African Community (EAC) Partner States and the Tunduma border post between Tanzania and Zambia. A survey of time and traffic to cross these borders showed that they have contributed to reducing crossing times by an average of...

Press Release  For release on 16th June at 3.00 p.m. East African Time  The EU supports TradeMark Africa with EUR 5 million to guarantee safe trade in Kenya  TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the European Union have this afternoon signed a €5 million agreement to support the Safe Trade Emergency Facility being implemented by TMA in the region, in the presence of the Cabinet Secretary for Industry, Trade & Co-operatives, Betty Maina, and the Secretary for EAC Affairs & Regional Development, Adan Mohamed. The funds from the European Union will fund the Kenyan component of the programme making the EU the largest donor to the programme.  The Safe Trade Facility is an emergency programme being rolled out by TMA in the wake of COVID- 19 to complement East African Governments’ efforts to keep safe trade flowing even as the fight against the virus continues. Specifically, in Kenya, the Safe Trade Emergency Facility will fund a range of short to medium term measures to protect critical supply chains and keep borders open thus preventing job losses and protecting livelihoods.  The EU Ambassador to Kenya, Simon Mordue, commented: The European Union is the largest common market in the world. I am therefore happy to support this Safe Trade Emergency Facility in Kenya not only as a donor but also by drawing on the EU’s knowledge and experience. This action will support Kenya as the gateway to the EAC by making certain that all supply chains stay open and that food and all other...

Nairobi, June 10th, 2020: The Anti-Counterfeit Authority has released findings of a National Baseline Survey on the extent of counterfeit and other forms of illicit trade in Kenya. The purpose of the study is to determine the extent and magnitude of illicit trade in the country. According to the study conducted between October 2019 and February 2020, the Government revenue lost in 2018 stood at Ksh 102.99 billion up from Ksh 101.23 billion in 2017. From the 16 sectors of the economy that the study concentrated on, building, mining and construction were heavily affected by counterfeiting with a share of 23.37% in value of total illicit trade, followed by energy, electrical and electronics with a share of 14.67% in 2018. The sector with the most government revenue loss was food, beverage and non-alcoholic drinks with a share of 23.19%, followed by textile and apparel at 20.09%.  Thirty (30) per cent of the firms were aware that their products were being counterfeited and sold in the market, whereas 56.4% of the sampled firms were not aware that their products are being counterfeited and sold in the market. Between 2016 and 2018, 7,484 jobs were lost in Kenya due to illicit trade with counterfeiting accounting for 32.59% of the jobs lost. The study also cites piracy as a critical form of illicit trade. According to the findings, the loss of sales as a result of pirated products stood at Ksh 2.2 billion over the period 2016-2018. Although the trend depicts marginal decline...

Nairobi, 5 th March 2020: East Africa is anticipated to earn US$ 1.8 billion in welfare gains and benefit from 2 million jobs from the successful implementation of Africa Free Continental Trade Area (AfCFTA), which becomes operational this July. This is according to a ground-breaking report coproduced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) titled ‘Creating a Unified Regional Market- Towards the Implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area in East Africa.’ The Chief Guest at the launch was Kenya’s East African Community and Regional Development Cabinet Secretary (CS) Adan Mohamed flanked by Trade Ministers from other East African countries. CS Mohamed noted that the new Continental Trade Block will present unprecedented opportunities for the region. “With the advanced integration of EAC, we’ve witnessed first-hand the benefits of trading more with each other. The AfCFTA will not only enable us to enhance this trade in the region, it will also allow our business community to access a much wider market of other African countries,” explained Mohammed. The journey towards this ambitious Continental Free Trade Area gained momentum in March 2018, when 44 nations signed up during the African Union Extra-Ordinary Session in Kigali, Rwanda. Currently 54 out of the 55 African Union Member States have signed the AfCFTA. AfCFTA creates the single largest trade block in the world. Speaking during the launch of the report TMA Chief Executive Officer Frank Matsaert noted the new trade deal holds great promise for East Africa and...

[vc_row][vc_column][rev_slider alias="TradeMark-East-Africa-Signs-MOU"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On the heels of the first UK-Africa Investment Summit, hosted by the UK Prime Minister and attended by over 20 African Heads of State, TradeMark Africa (TMA) is pleased to announce it is signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). TMA, one of the largest Aid for Trade organisations worldwide, works to reduce barriers to trade and increase business competitiveness in the East Africa region so as to contribute to economic growth, reduce poverty and increase prosperity. Active since 2010, the not-for-profit has worked alongside governments, private sector and civil society actors to record a number of impressive result, such as a 70 per cent reduction in the average time it takes to cross borders and a $62 decrease in the clearance cost per transaction along key corridors in the East African Community (EAC). To be signed by TradeMark Africa’s CEO Frank Matsaert and ODI’s Managing Director Simon Gill on Tuesday January 21st, the MOU will seek to build on an already collaborative approach to facilitating trade and development in Africa. Prior to the formal signing, Frank Matsaert will join Lord Paul Boateng (Vice-Chair, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Trade out of Poverty), Claire Akamanzi (CEO, Rwanda Development Board), Maximiliano Mendez-Parra (Senior Research Fellow, ODI), Rachel Turner (Director of Economic Development, Department for International Development) and Vera Songwe (Executive Secretary, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa), in a public event entitled ‘Increasing UK Investment in Africa’ at the ODI offices in London. The event will...

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the Mombasa County Government this morning inked a US$2.7 million financing deal towards construction of the Mbaraki-Nyerere Road. The amount will cover design, building and supervision consultancy for the project. TMA will provide US$2.3 million for the project. The funding is provided through TMA donors, with the UK Department for International Development (DFID) contributing US$ 1.7 million while Denmark’s development co-operation agency (DANIDA) contributing US$ 0.5 million. The Mombasa County Government will fund the balance amounting to US$ 0.4 million. The project is expected to unclog the Mbaraki Wharf region and the adjacent Likoni Ferry area, which suffer frequent traffic snarl ups as a result of cargo trucks offloading cargo from oil tankers and clinker ships. The project scope will entail tarmacking the 1.2 kilometre road, constructing a parking bay for trucks waiting to collect cargo at the oil terminal, paths for non-motorised transport, proper road drainage systems and a road solar lighting component. The Mbaraki-Nyerere Road Project has been hailed as a ‘Green-Road Project’ by transport experts, due to the significant reduction of the carbon footprint anticipated. Speaking during the deal signing ceremony Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho noted that the project would greatly improve traffic flow in the region. ‘As a government we are committed to improving both the lives and business competitiveness of Mombasa. This project is going to tackle congestion in a short yet extremely critical and busy section of Mombasa. We are grateful for the strong support by TradeMark Africa and its...

[vc_row][vc_column][rev_slider alias="tunduma-border-12"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The African Union, a continental body consisting of the 55 member states and TradeMark Africa (TMA), one of the largest aid-for-trade organisations worldwide, have today signed a partnership to boost implementation of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in selected Southern and Eastern Africa countries. The agreement was signed by Amb. Albert Muchanga, Commissioner for Trade and Industry, AU and Amb. Erastus Mwencha, TMA Board Chair and Frank Matsaert, CEO, TMA. TMA’s operations across eight countries, working with government, private sector and civil society to address high trade costs in Eastern Africa and support export growth, is well-positioned to support the African Union on its vision for an Integrated, Prosperous and Peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena. The partnership prioritises areas of common interest to both organisations including: Collaborate on the development of an Action Plan for the implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) for selected countries in Southern and Eastern Africa. Complement each other’s efforts in supporting the implementation of the Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), specifically the Boosting Intra-Africa Trade (BIAT) initiative which focuses on seven clusters - trade policy, trade facilitation, productive capacity, trade related infrastructure, trade finance, trade information, and factor market integration as drivers for expanding intra-African Trade and agree a workplan for the implementation. Encourage in a joint manner the inclusion of the voice of the Private Sector in the negotiations and the implementation of the AfCFTA. Increasing export growth...

[vc_row][vc_column][rev_slider alias="tunduma-border-11"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA) and Trademark East Africa (TMA) signed a USD 600,000 deal to facilitate digitization of key processes that will improve the authority’s ability to provide services to traders, monitor and enforce compliance to standards on selected imports. The Funding is provided by United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) through TMA. This Funding to RURA is part of TMA’s USD 57Million programme with the Government of Rwanda (GOR); that was launched in 2018. Within this, TMA works with various Rwanda Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as the Private Sector and Civil Society organizations to support hard and soft infrastructure interventions that reduce cost of doing business, improve efficiency of key trade processes, build capacity of local industries to produce and/or manufacture world class standards goods, and build linkages to markets. This funding will go towards supporting the adoption of a Converged Licensing Management System that will enhance compliance to standards and enforce regulation in Rwanda’s trade environment by reducing transaction time and cost incurred by businesses through effective trade systems and procedures. The project will also digitize licensing, inspection of imported electronics and allied goods and protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs). The project will also contribute towards Government of Rwanda’s ambition to have zero trips and zero paper in all Government services. The two partners made the announcement of this support during the signing of a Partner Support Agreement and Project Charter today at RURA headquarters in Kigali. TMA’s Rwanda Country...

Lusaka, 30th October 2019: The Common Market for East and Southern Africa (COMESA), a regional economic community and TradeMark Africa (TMA), one of the largest aid-for-trade organisations worldwide, have today signed a partnership to  boost trade facilitation initiatives in the East African Community (EAC) and COMESA regions. The agreement was signed by Chileshe Mpundu Kapwepwe, Secretary General, COMESA and Frank Matsaert, CEO, TMA. TMA’s operations across eight countries, working with government, private sector and civil society to address high trade costs in Eastern Africa and support export growth, is well-positioned to support COMESA on its vision for growth through trade and investments. The partnership prioritises areas of common interest to both organisations including: Implementation of trade facilitation initiatives in the East African Community and COMESA regions through application of respective regional and International instruments such as those under the World Customs Organisation and the World Trade Organisation; Improvement of border infrastructure and management procedures; Automation and other digital trade facilitation initiatives for improvement of Cargo clearance and other regulatory procedures aimed at enhancing efficiency and exchange of information; Elimination of Non-Tariff barriers to trade; Initiatives to build capacity and support private sector participation in trade and regional integration activities; Improving infrastructure and application of Technical Standards and Sanitary and Phyto-Sanitary measures; Reducing the cost, time and other barriers in the movement of transit goods through electronic monitoring, regional transit guarantees and other initiatives; Improving efficiency along the major trade and transport corridors including logistics and monitoring performance along such corridors;...

Kigali, 21 October 2019:  President Paul Kagame, on Monday, officially inaugurated the Kigali logistics platform, Rwanda’s largest inland cargo handling facility as the country bids to become a regional logistics hub. The Kigali Logistics Platform was constructed by Dubai Ports World, a United Arab Emirates firm under a 25-year concession agreement with the Government of Rwanda signed in 2016. It has been operational since September 2018 year in test mode. TradeMark Africa with funding from UKs Department for International Development (DFID) provided transaction advisory services which informed the establishment of the facility attracting investments from Dubai Ports World. In 2016, DP World was granted a 25-year concession to develop and operate a new logistics centre in Kigali, Rwanda. The DP World Kigali Logistics project is a greenfield concession agreement. The first phase will be built on 90,000m² (969,000 sq. ft) with a 12,000m² (129,000 sq. ft) container yard and a 19,600m² (211,000 sq. ft) warehousing facility. Estimated annual capacity is 50,000 TEUs and 640,000 tonnes of warehousing space. Total project cost is estimated at $35 million, and further development will be phased in line with demand growth. Rwanda aims to enhance the country’s logistics industry to support the export of products for regional and international markets. The DP World Kigali Logistics Centre is expected to significantly contribute to the development of this strategy. Speaking at the event, H.E. President Kagame said; “I congratulate Dubai ports on successfully completing the test phase, which has already demonstrated significant reductions in truck turn-around...