TradeMark Africa (TMA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to facilitate projects that will improve cross border trade and enhance trade links between the country and East Africa Community member states. With the MOU in force, TMA, a leading trade facilitation institution, will replicate and consolidate its success in contributing to the ease of trading across borders and in this case, by investing in already available resources like water transport, simplifying trade processes through training and facilitating adoption of Information Communication Technology (ICT) around Eastern DRC.  The government of the Netherlands made a commitment of USD 6.7Million to kick-start the projects. The projects will comprise dredging and rehabilitation of Kalundu port on Lake Tanganyika, support to cross border trade which will include capacity building and implementation of Integrated Border Management systems on the border crossings in Rusizi between Rwanda and Bukavu; rehabilitation of the Ports of Kasenyi (DRC) and Ntoroko (Uganda) and finally infrastructure work at the border crossing at Goli (Uganda) Mahagi (DRC). TMA involvement with DRC consolidate the benefits accrued from similar intervention it has facilitated in East Africa and especially along the regions’ main transport routes including the Northern Corridor from Mombasa linking Uganda, Rwanda, DRC and South Sudan. And  Central Corridor, connecting Dar es salaam port to Rwanda, Burundi, and  Eastern DRC by road and lake transport. During a visit to State House after the signing ceremony the DRC Directeur du Cabinet, at State House Prof. Nehemie Wilondja, stated that...

Kigali, March 24th 2017: The Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA} has today commissioned the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), joining its partners in Kenya and Uganda. The system connects the three countries electronic cargo tracking systems, enabling them to jointly track cargo from port to destination on a twenty-four-hour basis. The RECTS is expected to enhance cargo security and curb diversions which will ultimately reduce transit time, cost of cargo transportation and enhance transparency as all stakeholders will have access to the system. The commissioning of RECTS follows a July 3rd 2014 directive by the Northern Corridor Heads of State Summit in Kigali, compelling Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda to embrace joint e-monitoring of transit cargo along the corridor through a harmonized system to enable seamless flow of cargo. Speaking during the event, Richard Tusabe, RRA Commissioner General, said: "From a tax administration perspective, we are going to see improved revenues because the revenue leakage is going to be mitigated but also it's going to allow us to give more confidence to the business community to trade with ease without the 'manual processes that we've been trying to apply." RECTS has been supported by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID} through Trademark East Africa (TMA). Speaking at the event, the DFID Rwanda Head of Office, Sally Waples, said: "The UK is truly excited about the role that the RECTS will have in reducing the cost of doing business across East Africa and harnessing Rwanda's trade potential." Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda will seal loopholes that lead to revenue loss because of diversion of un-taxed goods...

The Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) has launched the Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), connecting with Rwanda and Uganda in reducing the cost of cargo transportation along the Northern Corridor. This follows a July 3 2014 directive by the Northern Corridor Heads of State Summit in Kigali, compelling Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda to embrace e - monitoring of transit cargo along the corridor through a harmonized system to enable seamless flow of cargo. The new system replaces the existing Electronic Cargo Tracking System (ECTS) where monitoring is done independently through stand-alone platforms. This forced KRA officers to toggle between screens, therefore making the process very tedious and ripe for abuse. “Over the years, the cargo volume along the corridor has been increasing steadily, hence the need to facilitate quick movement of cargo without compromising customs security controls,” said KRA Commissioner Julius Musyoki, “Challenges such as revenue leakages, unfair competition in the business environment and increased costs of doing business necessitated a review of the current ECTS.” RECTS has been financed by the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID), through TradeMark Africa. According to Frank Matsaert TMA CEO, RECT’s efficiency will ingrain fair terms of trade by creating a level playing field for both importers and local industries as it helps in eliminating diversion of cargo. The new system will largely facilitate trade along the Northern Corridor as it lowers the cost and time of doing business. It is also expected to curb theft and diversion of goods destined for markets within the Northern Corridor through the port of Mombasa. RECTS is a harmonized...

USD4.4 Million Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System was unveiled today and will further reduce transit time, cargo theft and diversion of goods in transit Kampala, 24th Feb 2017: Revenue Authorities in Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda have officially unveiled a Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTs) enabling them to jointly track movement of goods from port to destination electronically; that is from Mombasa Port to Kampala and Kigali. The system will reduce the cost of doing business by reducing transit time, enhancing cargo safety and helping traders to better predict arrival of goods.  The service will be free as Revenue Authorities will meet all operational costs. Speaking at the unveiling of the system at Uganda Revenue Authority offices at Nakawa, Kampala, -  URA Commissioner General Doris Akol said, “The partnership with Kenya and Rwanda helps us monitor goods from end to end, easing cargo handling, improving revenue collection and reducing diversion of un-taxed goods into the market. It will lead to improved fair trade as goods that have not been taxed will not be diverted to distort the market. This will benefit our traders and assure potential investors of level playing field in our region”. The United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) has supported the project by giving USD4.4million grant through TradeMark Africa. A DFID official said “DFID is proud to be partnering with Government of Uganda, and with key partners including TMA, to reduce Uganda’s barriers to trade with the rest of the world.  Increasing Uganda’s trade with its...

US $11.3 million invested in the construction of Kagitumba One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) facilities which includes Customs and Migration block, Inspection and Warehouse block, sheltered parking yards, internal roads TradeMark Africa funded the construction with support from UKAID and the Government of Canada. An Integrated Border Management System including computers and their accessories, internet, CCTV cameras, laboratory equipment, and development of OSBP procedures enables One Stop Controls. Construction started in May 2013 and operations officially commenced in December 2015. Clearing time through the Kagitumba-Mirama Hills border already reduced by 25% from 5 hours to 3:45 hours, by March 2016. Time reductions expected to go up to 30%. At peak performance, the OSBP at Kagitumba is expected to afford border users an estimated 30% time savings and attract 60% of Northern Corridor traffic. Kagitumba, Rwanda, February 13th 2017: H.E President Paul Kagame today visited the newly operational One Stop Border Post (OSBP) facilities at Kagitumba, Nyagatare district at the border between Rwanda and Uganda. The OSBP started operations in December 2015 and has already resulted in a 25% reduction in clearing time from 5 hours to 3.45 hours. TradeMark Africa (TMA) with Support from UKAID and The Canadian government funded the facility. The visit was part of President Kagame’s trip to Nyagatare district. An OSBP is a “one stop” form of border crossing point jointly managed by neighbouring countries, with officials from host and neighbouring country sitting under one roof on either side of the border. This allows border users to stop only once at the country of destination, where their travel or other documents are...

Songwe – February 1, 2017 – A Swedish delegation led by the Director General for Trade in the Swedish Ministry Foreign Affairs, Ms Karin Olofsdotter, and the Director General for International Development Cooperation, Johannes Oljelund and the Swedish Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E Katarina Rangnitt visited the Tunduma One Stop Border Post (OSBP) currently under construction. The border lies between Tanzania and Zambia. The visit was organised by the Swedish Embassy in Tanzania in collaboration with TradeMark Africa (TMA). The visit provided an opportunity to assess the impact of different trade facilitation initiatives being supported by the Swedish government and other development agencies aimed at improving the lives of Tanzanians by strengthening the business environment. TMA is providing funding to the Government of Tanzania through the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) for the construction of the Tunduma OSBP and is working with border agencies in Tanzania and Zambia to set up mechanisms for integrated border management and harmonization of customs procedures. This aims to reduce waiting times at the border post by 30% within 18 months. Congestion at Tunduma, the busiest border in Tanzania in terms of volume of cargo, makes Dar es Salaam Port unattractive to importers in East and Central African countries. Transit cargo traffic represents about one third of total cargo handled by Dar es Salaam but this could drop if urgent action to decongest the border town is not taken. Deficiencies in the existing regulation, management and administration and the poor state of physical facilities at the border...

Nairobi – January 24, 2017 – Finland has granted 9.8 million Euros to TradeMark Africa (TMA) to support its work in enhancing trade across the East African Community to increase prosperity in the region. The agreement will advance common goals of increasing trade within East Africa by reducing the time and cost of transiting and transporting goods. The partnership will also support East African Community (EAC) regional trade integration. This grant is also expected to broaden TMAs regional integration program at the Port of Dar es Salaam and key border posts along the Central Corridors, and will work with EAC Member States to remove barriers to trade. The agreement was signed by the Finnish Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Tarja Fernández and Frank Matsaert, CEO, TradeMark Africa. Finland’s strategy for development cooperation and action plan for aid for trade put more emphasis on the development of trade and regional economic integration. The Finnish government believes that supporting increased trade in the region in combination with assistance to the private sector will accelerate economic growth and jobs, with the ultimate goal of poverty reduction. Finnish Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Tarja Fernández said: “We know that the new strategy will move the region beyond the accomplishments of the past, creating job opportunities, and opening up, until now, marginalised areas to development through interventions at various nodes of East Africa Trade Network from ports to the hinterlands. That is why we are committed to supporting the second phase of TMA’s programme.” TMA aims to...

Nairobi, 19th December 2016 – TradeMark Africa (TMA) has been awarded a Certificate of Special Recognition by H.E. President Yoweri Museveni at the annual Visionaries of Uganda Awards following the organisation’s work in Uganda.  This is a Presidential initiative that recognises investors, private sector and donor institutions whose work has had a transformative social-economic impact on the people of Uganda.  TMA was recognised for best contribution to infrastructure and trade facilitation. Since the TMA programmes began in Uganda – working closely with the Ministry of Works and Transport (MoWT) – waiting times for trucks on border posts have been reduced by up to 70% after one-stop custom mechanisms were introduced, therefore eliminating the need for customs checks on both sides of the border. Furthermore, the Uganda Revenue Authority has seen a 48% increase in tax revenues, after moving to a 24hour web-based processing customs system. The move has also led to processing time being reduced by 30% from 120 hours to 84 hours. Moses Sabiiti, TMA Uganda Country Director, noted that with support from the British Government, through DFID, the programme has been able to engage implementing partners to achieve tremendous results on infrastructure initiatives. Frank Matsaert, Chief Executive Officer of Trade Mark East Africa, commented on the receiving award: “The work we undertake at TMA across Uganda has significantly reduced the cost and time of doing business in the country and has made a tangible difference to the lives of Ugandans. We are grateful to be recognised by H.E....

Tourism currently contributes 10.5% to the Country’s GDP and is projected to grow at 5% per annum up to the year 2025 Cruise tourism is today one of the most dynamic and fastest growing segment of the leisure industry worldwide generating US$38bn in economic activity in 2015 Travel services or tourism is a key services area for the country, a priority in Vision 2030 and is one of the fastest growing exports in Kenya, representing 18.3% of total exports TMA supporting $1m in development of ultra-modern cruise terminal facility and a further $200k for implementing the Kenya Tourism Development Strategy 2030 Mombasa, Kenya, 16th December 2016 – A ground breaking ceremony at the Port of Mombasa has signalled the commissioning of works to develop ultra-modern cruise ship terminal facilities at berth 1. The event was witnessed by the Cabinet Secretary, Tourism, Najib Balala, Governor, Mombasa County, H.E. Ali Hassan Joho, TradeMark Africa (TMA) Director General, David Stanton, Senior Director, Business Competitiveness, Lisa Karanja, Kenya Country Director, Ahmed Farah and Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) Managing Director, Catherine Mturi-Wairi. The project which will cost $2m is jointly funded by TMA ($1m) and KPA ($1m). Travel services or tourism is a key services area for the country, a priority in Vision 2030 and is one of the fastest growing exports in Kenya, representing 18.3% of total exports. However, the sector has a series of challenges which include the need to improve product development and leverage investments in new products especially at the county...

Dar es Salaam – December 6th, 2016 Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have today signed an MOU worth USD 62 million. The support is intended to transform Dar port into a modern port through improving the operational and spatial efficiency and increase handling capacity to the level agreed upon under Tanzania Ports Masterplan. Dar Es Salaam port handles approximately 90% of Tanzania’s seaborne import and export volume. It is the gateway to global trade and serves as a transit port for Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Uganda, Zambia and Malawi. Traffic at Dar port is projected to increase from a throughput of 13.5 million tonnes in 2013 to 28 million tonnes in 2028, with container throughput increasing from 577,047 TEUs handled in 2013 up to 1,138,000 TEUs in 2018 and 3,226,000 TEUs in 2028. TMA Tanzania Country Director, John Ulanga, said “Dar Port is a major trade gateway for Tanzania and the region and that’s why TMA has continued to invest in improvement of its infrastructure, productivity and Port reforms” TMA’s support will specifically support the following areas: The improvement of the port infrastructure: Removal and relocation of sheds (2-7 and import Improvements of roads to gates 4,5 &8;News scanners for exit gates 4 & 8 and relocation of gate 5 entry scanner ;Bathymetric, hydrodynamic and geo-tech surveys & feasibility study of dredging channel and basin. Port productivity: Productivity improvement plan; strengthening operating procedures; implementing the new cost accounting. Port reform Dialogue and Process: Transaction advisory...