Mahagi, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), 28 November 2024: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) yesterday announced the completion of Phase II of the Mahagi One Stop Border Post (OSBP) Project, marked by the technical handover event, alongside the commencement of Phase III. Funded by UK International Development, Finland, and the Netherlands, the Mahagi OSBP is transforming cross-border trade along the Northern Corridor, a critical route connecting Eastern and Central Africa. The official handover to the government of DRC is scheduled for Q1 of 2025. Phase II, funded by Finland, delivered essential infrastructure, including modern administrative buildings, water drilling facilities, a retaining wall for truck parking, and improved water, sanitation, and public lighting systems. These upgrades build on the foundation laid in Phase I, co-financed by the Netherlands and UK International Development which expanded and paved the parking area, constructed a warehouse and gatehouse, installed fencing, and deployed CCTV to enhance security. Together, these measures are set to significantly reduce border crossing times, streamline trade flows, and address delays along one of Africa’s most critical trade corridors. Designed with cross-border traders in mind, particularly small-scale operators, and exporters of coffee and cocoa, the OSBP addresses the needs of those who depend on Mahagi for their livelihoods. Despite the progress of Phase II, gaps remain in transport connectivity, customs integration, and accessibility for smaller traders. Phase III, funded by UK International Development, seeks to close these gaps. Planned improvements include designing and paving of the access roads...

Lors d'une réunion qui s'est tenue à Nairobi, TradeMark Africa (TMA) et le Centre d'étude et de coopération internationale (CECI) ont discuté du déploiement du programme Making Trade Work for Women in West Africa (MTWW). Financé par Affaires mondiales Canada (AMC), le programme est conçu pour éliminer les barrières sexospécifiques qui limitent la participation des femmes et des jeunes au commerce dans six pays d'Afrique de l'Ouest : Burkina Faso, Ghana, Côte d'Ivoire, Togo, Bénin et Nigeria. Le programme MTWW devrait avoir un impact direct sur 80 000 personnes – dont 70 % de femmes et 20 % de jeunes – tout en bénéficiant indirectement à 20 000 commerçants supplémentaires. Il vise à accroître la valeur commerciale, à créer des opportunités d'emploi, à renforcer les chaînes d'approvisionnement et à améliorer l'environnement commercial dans la région. Parmi les principales interventions, citons la formation à l'égalité des sexes pour les femmes commerçantes, les décideurs politiques et les fonctionnaires des frontières, l'introduction de solutions innovantes telles que les outils TIC, l'argent mobile et les solutions de services financiers adaptés aux femmes commerçantes, ainsi que la mise en œuvre de solutions de « frontières intelligentes ». En outre, le programme soutiendra la modernisation des marchés et des installations frontalières et renforcera les politiques commerciales sensibles au genre par le biais d'un dialogue inclusif avec les parties prenantes. La délégation du CECI, conduite par Bonaventure Wakana, directeur des programmes internationaux et de l'innovation, et Madeleine Tsimi, responsable du programme MTWW, a exprimé son optimisme quant...

In a meeting held in Nairobi, TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) discussed the roll out of the Making Trade Work for Women in West Africa (MTWW) programme. Funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the programme is designed to break down gender-specific barriers that restrict the participation of women and young people in trade across six West African countries: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Togo, Benin, and Nigeria. The MTWW programme is set to directly impact 80,000 individuals – 70% of whom are women and 20% youth – while indirectly benefiting an additional 20,000 traders. It seeks to enhance trade value, create employment opportunities, strengthen supply chains, and improve the trading environment in the region. Some of the major interventions include gender sensitive training for women traders, policymakers, and border officials, the introduction of innovative solutions such as ICT tools, mobile money, and financial service solutions tailored for women traders and implementation of “smart border” solutions. Additionally, the programme will support upgrades of markets and border facilities and strengthen gender-responsive trade policies through inclusive stakeholder dialogue. The CECI delegation, led by Bonaventure Wakana, Director of International Programmes and Innovation, and Madeleine Tsimi, the Programme Manager for MTWW, expressed optimism about the programme’s transformative potential for integrating women and young traders into the trade systems, while supporting regional integration efforts in West Africa. TMA was represented by Anthe Vrijlandt, Director of Strategy and Partnerships, and Harriet Gayi, West Africa Lead, who noted the extensive groundwork...

Mombasa, Kenya: 14 November 2024 - There was cause to celebrate in Mombasa as the new MbarakiNyerere Road and the Bamburi Drainage Outfall were officially opened in a ceremony at the coast. The road and drain have been operational since July 2022, and the upgrade from a murram road to a highquality bitumen road has transformed the lives of the businesses and residents of Mombasa. The construction of the road was made possible by a three-way partnership between the County Government of Mombasa, the UK Government and the Royal Danish Embassy – and delivered by TradeMark Africa, a pan-African aid-for-trade organisation, whose work has reduced cargo clearance times at Mombasa Port from 11.2 to 3.4 days and led to a reduction of 16.5% in cargo transit times on the Northern Corridor, from the Port of Mombasa to Bujumbura in Burundi. Prior to the construction of the road, traffic congestion from Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) – the workhorses of Mombasa Port - negatively impacted the productivity and profitability of businesses. The road is – literally – driving growth through trade, as it has led to higher truck utlisation rates, and quicker turnaround times for cargo at the Mbaraki Terminal. 160 local people were directly employed during construction, and 15% were women. The lower congestion has also improved air quality for residents. The 1.2km road that runs from Mbaraki to Nyerere has also positively impacted the lives of Mombasa’s citizens, due to the incorporation of a 100-meter-long drain, funded by the Royal...

November 20, 2024, Nairobi, Kenya. USAID today flagged off technology equipment worth $33,000 to four East African Community (EAC) land border posts - Lwakhakha (Kenya/Uganda) and Loitoktok/Tarakea (Kenya/Tanzania) to enhance the operational efficiency of cross-border regulatory agencies better facilitating trade, cargo clearance, and cooperation among customs authorities and partner government agencies. The purchase of the equipment was funded by USAID Economic Recovery and Reform Activity (ERRA) implemented by TradeMark Africa (TMA). The four selected borders play a crucial role in facilitating the movement of agricultural commodities and products across the East African countries and serve as conduits for strengthening regional trade connectivity within the EAC. The Lwakhakha border is crucial in alleviating traffic pressure from key Northern Corridor borders at Malaba and Busia, while the Loitoktok/Tarakea border plays a central role in linking South-Eastern region in Kenya with the North-Eastern region in Tanzania and facilitating broader trade activities. According to recent data, agricultural product volumes moving through the Lwakhakha border from Uganda between July 2021 and June 2022 reached 5.37 million kilograms. Major items included cereals (rice, maize, beans), fruits (bananas, watermelons, avocados), vegetables (tomatoes, yams), and animal feed (rice and wheat bran). At the Loitoktok/Tarakea border between Tanzania and Kenya, goods valued at $39.2 million were cleared in 2022, primarily comprising fruits (oranges, watermelons, pineapples), vegetables (onions, potatoes), legumes (peas, groundnuts), cereals (maize, cowpeas), as well as animal feeds, wood, and LPG gas. Additionally, Tanzania imported $41.2 million worth of goods from Kenya, of which 92% were processed industrial...

Zambia Government and partners break ground on the $10.5 million Nakonde border upgrade. Nakonde, Zambia, 21 October 2024, The construction of modern facilities at the Nakonde One Stop Border Post (OSBP), an important trade and transit route between Zambia and Tanzania, has officially kicked-off following a groundbreaking ceremony led by the Government of Zambia in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA), the British High Commission in Zambia, the contractor and other stakeholders. Funded by the UK Government’s Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Zambia through TradeMark Africa, the $10.5 million project will improve the flow of goods and people along the Dar es Salaam Corridor, enhance customs efficiency, and reduce cargo clearance on both sides of the border. The ceremony was presided over by Zambia’s Minister of Infrastructure, Housing and Urban Development, Charles Milupi, who underscored the vital role the modern OSBP will play in streamlining customs operations, reducing congestion and improving regional trade. “This project is timely as it will resolve the challenges experienced at this critical border and allow it to operate efficiently as a one-stop-border post. Our infrastructure agenda is anchored on harnessing our land-linked status as a country, through the development of critical trade corridors to ensure that they are serviced by high quality and reliable road, rail and border infrastructure. Our country is at the heart of the Southern and Eastern African region, with a combined population of 633 million people, which is a big market for Zambian products and services,” he said. The OSBP improvement...

Nairobi, Kenya, 06 septembre 2024 : TradeMark Africa (TMA) annonce la nomination de S.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, ancien Premier ministre de l'Éthiopie, en sa qualité de nouveau président du conseil d'administration. S.E. Desalegn succède à l'Ambassadeur Erastus Mwencha, qui vient de conclure son mandat,  et rejoint TMA à un moment où l'organisation s'est fixé des objectifs ambitieux, notamment stimuler les exportations africaines, soutenir la mise en œuvre de la Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (AfCFTA) et étendre sa portée opérationnelle de l'Afrique orientale à l'Afrique occidentale et australe, en travaillant en étroite collaboration avec les communautés économiques régionales, les institutions nationales, le secteur privé et les partenaires internationaux. En tant que dirigeant politique de haut niveau ayant une expérience à la fois nationale et continentale, l'expertise et l'expérience de S.E. Desalegn seront essentielles pour guider TMA tout au long de sa nouvelle stratégie de sept ans. La stratégie 2023-2030 se concentre sur la poursuite de la réduction du temps et du coût du transport des marchandises à travers les frontières et sur l'amélioration de l'accès au marché pour les PME en améliorant la valeur et la qualité des marchandises échangées, tout en relevant les défis liés au commerce de l'avenir pour le continent. Il s'agit notamment de faire de l'Afrique un pionnier mondial du commerce vert, de tirer parti des capitaux commerciaux pour multiplier les investissements dans les infrastructures commerciales et de veiller à ce que les bénéfices du commerce profitent aux plus pauvres, en particulier aux femmes et aux...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 13 September 2024: The Government of the United Republic of Tanzania, through the President’s Office, Planning, and Investment, in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA), has launched an initiative to accelerate investment, foster development, and improve the management of investment tools in Tanzania. As part of this initiative the launch of three trade development Reports: The National Investment Report 2023, the Guideline for Development and Management of Industrial Parks and Baseline Report. Together, these reports aim to transform Tanzania's SEZ landscape and attract both domestic and foreign investment, driving the country's industrial growth. Fully supported by TMA, with funding from Ireland, UK International Development, and Norway, these reports provide an in-depth analysis of Tanzania’s SEZ operations, investment climate, and policy frameworks. The reports present a strategic roadmap to improve efficiency and competitiveness, positioning Tanzania a key player in regional and global economic transformation. The National Investment Report offers a comprehensive evaluation of Tanzania’s investment landscape, providing insights into both domestic and foreign investments. It assesses the policies, laws, and strategies shaping the business environment, while also outlining the necessary measures to attract greater investment, including infrastructure improvements, regulatory streamlining, and enhanced incentives. The report further examines global investment trends, prospects for foreign direct investment, and the impact of macroeconomic factors on Tanzania's economic potential.   Speaking at the launch, Honourable Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa stated, “The reports and tools being launched today will empower the nation to attract more investments, create job opportunities, and drive overall economic...

Nairobi, Kenya, 05 September 2024: TradeMark Africa (TMA) announces the appointment of H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, former Prime Minister of Ethiopia, as its new Board Chair. H.E. Desalegn is succeeding Ambassador Erastus Mwencha, who has concluded his term, and joins TMA at a time when the organisation has set its sights on ambitious goals including boosting African exports, supporting implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and expanding its operational reach from Eastern to West and Southern Africa, working closely with Regional Economic Communities, national institutions, the private sector and international partners. As a senior political leader with experience on both national and continental stages, H.E. Desalegn’s expertise and experience will be central to guiding TMA through its new seven-year strategy. The 2023-2030 strategy focuses on continuing to reduce the time and cost of transporting goods across borders and improving market access for SMEs by improving the value and quality of traded goods, while addressing the trade-related challenges of the future for the continent. This includes positioning Africa as a global pioneer in green trade, leveraging commercial capital for greater multiples of investment in trade infrastructure, and ensuring that trade benefits accrue to the poorest, in particular women and youth.   H.E Desalegn’s tenure as Prime Minister of Ethiopia from 2012 to 2018 was marked by a visionary approach to economic and diplomatic engagements, under which Ethiopia saw sustained double-digit economic growth.  His experience in fostering trade agreements and promoting economic integration during his tenure as Chair of...

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 28 August 2024: In a significant step towards enhancing Tanzania's trade infrastructure and economic competitiveness, the Government of Ireland, through its Embassy in Tanzania, has committed €2.4 million (TZS7.26billion) to support TradeMark Africa (TMA)’s programming initiatives aimed at strengthening trade and economic growth in Tanzania for the 2024/25 to 2025/26.  The funding was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) by Ireland’s Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Nicola Brennan, and TMA’s Country Director Tanzania, Mr Elibariki Shammy, marking a significant moment in the partnership between Ireland and TMA. The three-year agreement is designed to drive substantial improvements in Tanzania’s trade infrastructure, reduce trade barriers, and enhance business competitiveness. This funding will also be instrumental in advancing digital systems, improving market access, fostering inclusivity, particularly for women traders transitioning from informal to formal trade routes and greening trade - a new priority area to promote more sustainable trade and transport corridors through integrating climate action. At the signing ceremony, Ambassador Brennan expressed her optimism about the partnership's impact, stating, "Ireland is proud to partner with TradeMark Africa in this crucial initiative. By improving trade infrastructure and reducing barriers to trade, we can make a significant contribution to Tanzania's economic growth and the prosperity of its people. This funding reflects our shared commitment to fostering sustainable development and economic opportunities in Africa, while also strengthening the economic ties between our two nations.” The TMA Tanzania Country Programme aligns with TMA’s broader strategic objectives, addressing critical challenges...