Public-private pacts key catalyst for East Africa’s trade future
In East Africa, collaboration between public and private sector actors is proving to be a powerful force in shaping inclusive economic development.While traditional Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) are often associated with infrastructure financing, a quieter, more transformative form of collaboration is unfolding—one rooted in shared purpose, mutual benefit, and inclusive growth.As governments work to create enabling […]
East Africa should seize the trade moment in changing global order
At this year’s GTR East Africa 2025 Conference in Nairobi, I participated in a timely panel discussion under the theme “Trade Growth and Infrastructure Investment: East Africa’s Opportunity to Thrive in the New World Order.” The conversation could not have come at a more critical moment. The global economy is in transition. Long-standing trade assumptions […]
How a Kenyan Cooperative is Turning Compliance into a Catalyst for Rural Prosperity
Murang’a County, a significant avocado-producing region in Kenya, contributes 40% of the national output, valued at over $3.5 million. Most homes in the area have small orchards, which have become crucial for rural livelihoods. While cities like Madrid and Stockholm offer lucrative markets for avocados, Murang’a farmers, like others in Kenya, face barriers to entry. […]
TradeMark Africa and British Standards Institution Sign Partnership to Align Africa’s Export-Ready Trade with International Standards and Best Practice
Nairobi. June 24, 2025 – Yesterday, BSI (British Standards Institution) and TradeMark Africa (TMA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to launch a transformative partnership aimed at strengthening Africa’s quality infrastructure, harmonising standards, and modernising sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) systems across the continent. This strategic collaboration will drive the development and implementation of internationally aligned […]
Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to deepen border reforms and coordination for seamless regional trade
During a joint mission at the Noé–Elubo border on 12 June 2025 Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana have taken a significant step toward improving cross-border trade efficiency with the validation of a major study on Coordinated Border Management (CBM). This occurred during a joint mission held at the Noé–Elubo border on 12 June 2025. The high-level […]
Faith and farming drive a Tanzanian export success story
Beneath the scorching sun, Pastor Clement Manyata, the CEO of Fresh Field, walks through rows of lush green fields, watching as workers carefully harvest fresh vegetables. Nearby, crates are stacked in neat aisles, ready for export. Such a sight once felt like an impossible dream. Today, Fresh Field Manyatta exports vegetables, including bitter gourd (bitter […]
Ethiopia’s Horticulture Sector Goes Digital with New Knowledge Management and E-Learning Platform
Addis Ababa, 29 May 2025 – The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), funded the European Union (EU), through Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and TradeMark Africa (TMA), has launched a fully functional online Knowledge Management and E-Learning System. The platform is designed to strengthen workforce capacity, improve industry standards, boost sector competitiveness, and enhance […]
Agripreneurs plant the seeds of success by expanding East Africa’s global trade footprint with horticultural exports
Evelyne Munyeti, Jade Fresh MD, shares the journey of navigating the world of horticultural exports. Exporting food from East Africa is not for the faint-hearted. Strict international standards, limited access to capital, and inconsistent production quality make it nearly impossible for most small businesses to break into international markets. Rejection rates are usually high, and […]
Juiced up for success – How a Rwandan entrepreneur is turning fruit into fortune
Hawa Chloe Niyigena, Whiz Upp Founder, turned a small fruit-processing business into a cross-border success. Cross-border trade in Africa is rarely about just having a good product. For most small businesses, the real hurdle is compliance, meeting multiple national and regional standards that determine whether, for example, a fruit puree clears customs or gets turned […]
Stakeholders call for inclusive, sustainable growth to unlock the potential of Kenya’s fisheries sector
Stakeholders pose for a group photo during the National Fisheries Stakeholders Consultative Workshop held in Kisumu, Kenya, on 26–27 June 2025 National Fisheries Stakeholders Workshop Deliberates on Policy Coordination, Gender Inclusion, and Trade Opportunities under the Fisheries Programme. Kenya’s fisheries sector holds immense potential to drive inclusive economic growth and regional trade, but only if […]