Hargeisa, Somaliland, 6th January 2021 - Regional Aid for Trade Agency TradeMark Africa (TMA) has this morning handed over Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to the government of Somaliland to protect front line agents working at Somaliland’s Tog-Wajaale border. The PPEs presented were funded by UKAID through TradeMark Africa. On hand to receive the PPEs were the Somaliland Minister of Finance, Dr. Saad Ali Shire and Director General of Ministry of Health, Dr Mohamed Hergeye. The equipment provided includes N95 face masks, foot pedal hand wash, sanitizers, disinfectants, and hand wash. Speaking during the handover event, Minister Saad Shire noted that whereas infections have slowed down in Somaliland, it remains imperative for the Government, non-government actors and the citizens to continue working jointly to prevent any re-emergence of the disease. “The fight against this pandemic presents a twin challenge for our nation, we must avoid re-emergence of the disease through new infections and we must also bolster our trade with the region to safeguard our economy and the livelihoods of our people” noted by the Minister. 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 Somaliland and her neighbours. A key border where the PPEs will be distributed is Tog-Wajaale (with Ethiopia). TMA Country Representative for Somaliland, Abdirahman Osman expressed optimism that the PPEs provided will protect key borders to continue facilitating trade without becoming infection hot spots. “Our borders and corridors remain...

The Moyale One Stop Border Point (OSBP) was launched today in a colourful event officiated by H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta CGH President of the Republic of Kenya and H.E. Dr Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister, the Federal Republic of Ethiopia at the Moyale border point which adjoins the two neighbouring nations. The border point is part of the LAPSSET project, and is situated approximately 800 Kilometres North of Nairobi, and 780 Kilometres South of Addis Ababa. Construction of the OSBP facility was completed in 2018, after which the facility has been kitted with appropriate ICT Hardware and Software to enable it run smoothly as a modern facility. Construction of the Moyale OSBP was part of the US$ 329 million project that included construction to bitumen standard 438 Kilometres road from Merille River to Moyale in Kenya and 300 Kilometres roads’ sections in Ethiopia. This initial construction phase was funded by AfDB (loan), EU (grant), the GoK and GoE (counterpart funding). The next phase entailed implementation of Integrated Border Management (IBM) Procedures and Systems on both sides of the border at a cost of US$ 1.65M which was funded by Funded by the UK Government through regional trade agency TradeMark Africa.  This included development and harmonisation of border procedures, harmonisation of legal instruments, capacity building programme for border agencies operating at the border point, awareness creation targeted at women traders as well as development and operationalisation of Cross Border Trade Charter. Speaking during the launch today President Kenyatta noted that the modern border...

Elegu, 10 November 2020: TradeMark Africa, the regional trade facilitating agency has handed over Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to Elegu One Stop Border Post (OSBP) frontline staff and informal cross border traders. The delivery of PPEs at Elegu OSBP comes at the back of concentrated efforts undertaken by the Government of Uganda and its partners to further curb the spread of the novel COVID-19 virus that continues to cause havoc across the world. The PPE presented at Elegu OSBP were funded by Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) through TradeMark Africa’s Safe Trade Emergency Facility. Other OBSPs that have already benefited from this Safe Trade initiative are Busia and Mutukula. Ulrik Jorgensen, Counsellor and Teamleader Growth Team at the Denmark in Uganda Embassy and Damali Ssali, the acting country director for TradeMark Africa, Uganda delivered the PPE to Elegu OSBP. On hand to receive the PPE was Abel Kagumire, the Commissioner Customs at Uganda Revenue Authority (URA). The equipment provided includes infrared thermometers, re-usable safety boots, full protective PPE, filtering facepiece respirator, reusable masks, plastic face shield. While receiving the PPE, Abel Kagumire, the URA commissioner customs underscored the significance of the Elegu OSBP as a strategic border for Uganda. “As a country, we look at Elegu border as a strategic border for growing our exports. We have a lot of agricultural produce in Uganda which is needed in South Sudan. That is why we come up with processes that help facilitate exports. We are challenging our people to add value...

Thursday, October 22, 2020| Nairobi, Kenya The Women in Trade Programme aims at benefitting 2,000 women traders across the borders of Nimule, Kaya and Nadapal and will focus on improving the trading environment for women in trade as well as build trade capacity of women traders, SMEs and Cooperatives. The Women in Trade is a 9 months Programme from May 2020 to February 2021, funded by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by Trade Mark East Africa (TMA). Through the Programme, TradeMark Africa seeks to increase incomes and improve livelihoods for women traders and women-owned enterprises through capacity building, addressing trade barriers and advocacy for policies that will create an enabling environment for women traders and women-led SMEs. This is part of a larger initiative by TMA to tackle poverty and reduce inequality through increased trade and competitiveness. The expected end of programme outcome is “Increased Social and Economic Empowerment of Women Traders in Eastern Africa. This empowerment will be achieved through 3 key objectives: Increase income from trade for targeted women traders in East Africa. Increase the capacity of women to participate in trade promote the rights of women in trade and reduce their vulnerability to violence and exploitation. The first phase of the Programme (2010-2018) delivered exceptional results which contributed to substantial gains in East Africa’s trade and regional integration in terms of reduced cargo transit times, improved border efficiency, and reduced barriers to trade. Now in the second phase (2018 - 2023), the focus is on: Reducing barriers...

Nairobi, 3 November 2020: The Government of Kenya (GOK) and TradeMark Africa (TMA), today signed four (4) financing agreements of Kes.1.31 Billion to support construction of four infrastructure projects in Mombasa, Malaba and Busia.  The Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Planning Hon. Amb. Ukur Yatani and TMA Chief Operating Officer Mr. David Stanton signed on behalf of their respective institutions. The signing was witnessed by the Director Development, British High Commission and   Kenya’s Principal Secretaries of the Ministry East Africa Community and Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure, TMA-Kenya Country Director Ahmed Farah and Head of Governance and Health at Danida Mrs. Minna Højland. Today’s Financial Agreement signing shows the continued partnership between TMA and the GOK in support of the Government’s commitment to reduce barriers to trade and create an enabling environment that can attract investments thus creating jobs and contribute to fighting poverty. The specific projects covered by the agreements are: Construction of the proposed Busia Jumuiya Cross Border Market; Construction of the road that links to Busia One Stop Border Post from Busia town; Construction of Magongo road in Mombasa; and Completing pending works at Malaba One Stop Border Post. The envisioned Busia Jumuiya Cross Border Market will occupy 40-acres of land with its full completion costing Kes. 2Billion for 3 phases being a retail section, a wholesale section, and a business hub. Out of this TMA in partnership with Ministry of East Africa Affairs will start Phase 1 which is the retail section estimated to cost...

Gulu, 23rd October 2020: H.E. President Yoweri Museveni today participated in the groundbreaking of the rehabilitation of the Tororo-Gulu Railway Line and the Gulu Logistics Hub. The ceremony was also attended by Other dignitaries included Uganda’s Minister of Works and Transport, Hon. Edward Katumba Wamala, European Union (EU) Ambassador to Uganda, H. E. Attilio Pacifici, UK High Commissioner in Uganda, H. E. Peter West, the Managing Director of the Uganda Railway Corporation, Charles Kateeba and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors of the Uganda Railway Corporation, Hannington Karuhanga, TradeMark Africa (TMA) Board Chair, Maggie Kigozi and Chief Technical Officer, Allen Asimwe. The Uganda Railways Cooperation with support from the Government of Uganda and the EU started the rehabilitation of the railway Tororo-Gulu in March 2020. The total cost project cost including supervision and resettlement action plan among others, amounts to Euros 47.6 million, of which the Government of Uganda will contribute Euros 26.1 million (113 billion Uganda Shilling) and the European Union Euros 21.5 million (93 billion Uganda Shilling). The rehabilitation is expected to be completed in the second half of 2023. The Tororo–Gulu Railway Line will provide a link between the port of Mombasa and Northern and Eastern Uganda, as well as South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo. The line fell out of service more than two decades ago, due to actions of war by the Lord’s Resistance Army, as well as facing unfair competition by overloaded trucks. The Rehabilitation of the Tororo-Gulu Railway takes place...

INTRA-REGIONAL TOURISM IN FOCUS FOR EATP AS EAC RE-OPENS The East African region as a tourism destination is well renown, mainly due to its unique attractions. It has some of Africa's most evocative safari destinations and the world's last remaining mountain gorillas. From Wildebeest over the savannah in the Serengeti-Maasai Mara ecosystem, rhinos stand in the shade in Ngorongoro crater and Chimpanzees in Western Tanzania's Gombe Stream and Mahale Mountains parks to mention a few. The significance of travel and tourism to the EAC partner states economies cannot be over-emphasized. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Tourism in East Africa contributed an average of 8.1% to GDP and 17.2% to export earnings and generates 7.1% of employment. As regards employment, tourism employed about 1,278,000 direct and 1,981,000 indirect jobs in the partner states Tourism in East Africa has taken a severe blow, with the tourism sector expected to face 92 per cent decline in cash flows due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a report releasedby the East Africa Business Council. Regional tourism has long relied on international travellers, but cannot bank any longer on traditional key source markets like North America and Europe. Hence the importance to spur the region within EAC capitalizing on the use of national ID and expatriate travel. Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda and Tanzania earned the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) global health and safety stamp, thus are designated as "Safe Travels" Destinations. The EATP advocates for regional tourism as it is a safe destination....

Kobero, Burundi, 24th September 2020 - Regional Aid for Trade Agency TradeMark Africa (TMA) has this morning handed over Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to front line agents working at Burundi’s key borders- in order to protect lives in Burundi and strengthen the war against Covid-19. The PPEs presented were funded by UKAID through TradeMark Africa. On hand to receive the PPEs at Kobero One Stop Border Post, were Minister of East African Community Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture, Honourable Ambassador Ezéchiel Nibigira, Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR) Commissioner of Customs, Mr Adolphe Manirakiza and the Chairman of the Burundi Private Sector Federation (CFCIB), Audace Ndayizeye. The equipment provided includes hand sanitizers, hand washing stations, liquid hand washing soap, infrared thermometer, re-usable safety boots, full protective PPE, filtering facepiece respirator, reusable masks, plastic face shield, disposable gloves, hand sanitiser dispensers and disinfectant spray bottles. Speaking during the handover event, Hon. EAC Minister Amb. Nibigira noted that whereas infections have slowed down in Burundi, it remains imperative for the Government, non-government actors and the citizens to continue working jointly to prevent any re-emergence of the disease. “The fight against this pandemic presents a twin challenge for our nation, we must avoid re-emergence of the disease through new infections and we must also bolster our trade with the region in order to safeguard our economy and the livelihoods of our people”’ noted the Amb. Nibigira. The equipment presented today will enhance the safety and working condition of front-line workers in key borders, which are...

The RECDTS App is designed to stop Corona in its tracks along EAC key transport corridors Arusha, 08/09/2020: The East Africa Community (EAC) Secretariat and its Partner States today held a virtual roll out event to mark the technical completion and development of Regional Electronic Cargo and Driver Tracking System (RECDTS). RECDTS is designed as a mobile phone application and will enable the issuance of the EAC COVID-19 digital certificates that are mutually recognised by Partner States, thus eliminating need for multiple testing as well as contributing to alleviating ongoing congestion at East Africa border crossing points. The roll out was witnessed by the EU Ambassador to Kenya H.E Simon Mordue and the Ministries of Health in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and the Ministries of East Africa Community in the Partner states. RECDTS provides a surveillance system to monitor long distance truckers crew health and enable contact tracing. It allows partner states to electronically share truck drivers’ COVID-19 test results; therefore, minimising need for multiple COVID-19 tests in a single trip. The reliance on manual certificates and delayed test results at the borders has been reported as one of the main reasons for costly long delays at border points, such as those witnessed in Busia, Malaba, Nimule and Elegu. Some of the delays have caused tail backs of trucks measuring tens of kilometres in some cases. The EAC developed the app with funding from European Union, Global Affairs Canada, Danida, Finland, Netherlands and United Kingdom through TradeMark Africa and in...

Six implementing partners will work together to support eight African nations mitigate the impacts of COVID-19. The European Union’s (EU) €60 million COVID-19 response project in the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) region was launched in Addis Ababa Bole International Airport, Ethiopia on Monday, 31 August 2020. The EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response programme will help all eight IGAD member states – Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda – tackle the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Through a ‘one team, one programme’ approach the six implementing partners include: IGAD, German development agency GIZ, International Organization for Migration (IOM), TradeMark Africa (TMA), UNICEF and UNOPS. Work has already begun with UNOPS as the Programme Manager hosted a two-day (Wednesday, 2 September - Thursday, 3 September 2020) inception workshop to create a common understanding and commitment to the programme between the implementing partners. UNOPS has joined a team of implementing partners to help deliver the EU-IGAD COVID-19 Response, launched earlier this week (Monday 31 August 2020) in Ethiopia. The €60 million programme, financed by the EU, will help eight countries in eastern and southern Africa mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, including: Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, and Uganda. The programme was initiated in response to a request made by IGAD, and is part of the EU’s Team Europe Global Response Package to support partner countries combat the challenges of the pandemic and its consequences. The programme will help to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 in...