L'industrie kenyane de la mangue a subi d'importants revers en raison de l'invasion de la mouche des fruits (Bactrocera dorsalis), qui a conduit à de nombreuses interceptions de cargaisons de mangues par l'Union européenne (UE). Pour relever ce défi et préserver les possibilités d'exportation du pays, des traitements post-récolte innovants tels que l'utilisation de la technique de traitement à l'eau chaude (HWT) sont à l'étude. Avec le soutien du programme de renforcement de l'environnement des entreprises et des exportations (EU-BEEEP) financé par l'UE, une délégation de TradeMark Africa (TMA) a récemment visité la Direction des cultures horticoles (HCD) à l'aéroport international Jomo Kenyatta (JKIA) de Nairobi pour évaluer la faisabilité de l'installation d'un équipement de traitement à l'eau chaude. Plus tard, l'équipe a eu l'occasion d'observer un prototype de l'équipement au Centre international de physiologie et d'écologie des insectes (icipe), une institution de recherche scientifique réputée pour ses technologies et pratiques innovantes en matière de lutte contre les ravageurs. Le traitement des eaux usées est une méthode éprouvée pour éliminer les parasites de quarantaine tels que les mouches des fruits, tout en préservant la qualité et la durée de conservation des mangues. En investissant dans les technologies de traitement des eaux usées, les exportateurs kenyans seront mieux préparés à répondre aux normes phytosanitaires strictes exigées par les principaux marchés tels que l'Union européenne, les États-Unis et le Japon. Cet investissement permettra non seulement aux exportateurs d'éviter des rejets coûteux aux frontières, mais aussi d'améliorer leur compétitivité sur le marché mondial....

Le programme national de TradeMark Africa (TMA) en Côte d'Ivoire a tenu sa réunion inaugurale du Comité national de Surveillance (CNS) le 20 septembre 2024, suite à la récente signature d'un protocole d'accord avec le ministère du Commerce. Le CNS fait partie de la structure de gouvernance de TMA et est présidé par un haut fonctionnaire d'un ministère. Il est chargé de fournir des conseils stratégiques sur la programmation qui répond aux objectifs nationaux, d'examiner les propositions de projets et les plans d'affaires liés aux programmes qu'il supervise et peut recommander au conseil d'administration de les approuver. Le comité examine également les progrès de la mise en œuvre et résout les problèmes. Ses membres comprennent des représentants des ministères et départements gouvernementaux concernés, des organes faîtiers du secteur privé, des organisations de la société civile et des partenaires du développement. Au cours de la réunion, les participants ont noté que le lancement de la programmation de TMA en Côte d'Ivoire était opportun et essentiel pour faire progresser la facilitation du commerce dans le pays et dans toute l'Afrique de l'Ouest. La séance d'ouverture de la série de rencontres de la journée, y compris la réunion du CNS, a été présidée par Patrick Olivier Daipo, chef de cabinet adjoint, qui représentait le ministre ivoirien du commerce et de l'industrie, Souleymane Diarrassouba. La réunion du CNS était présidée par Kalilou Sylla, directeur général du commerce extérieur au ministère. "Ce Comité National de Surveillance jouera un rôle essentiel dans le suivi et la...

TradeMark Africa (TMA)'s Côte d’Ivoire Country Programme held its inaugural National Oversight Committee (NOC) meeting on September 20, 2024, following the recent signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Ministry of Trade. The NOC is part of TMA’s governance structure and is chaired by a high-level official within a Government Ministry. It is mandated to provide strategic advice on programming that is responsive to national objectives, review project proposals and business plans related to the programmes they are overseeing and may recommend that the Board approves them. The committee also reviews implementation progress and resolves challenges. Its members include representatives from relevant government ministries and departments, private sector apex bodies, civil society organisations and development partners. During the meeting, participants noted that the launch of TMA’s programming in Côte d’Ivoire was timely and critical for advancing trade facilitation in the country and across West Africa. The opening session of the series of the engagements of the day, including the NOC meeting, was presided over by Patrick Olivier Daipo, Deputy Chief of Staff, representing Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Commerce and Industry, Souleymane Diarrassouba. The NOC meeting was chaired by Kalilou Sylla, Director General of Foreign Trade at the Ministry. “This National Oversight Committee will play a vital role in monitoring and coordinating various trade facilitation activities in Côte d’Ivoire to ensure the desired results of the interventions are achieved,” Mr Sylla noted. “Stakeholders from the public and private sectors, as well as civil society, agreed to design and implement...

Kenya’s mango industry has faced significant setbacks due to the invasive fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), which has led to numerous interceptions of mango shipments by the European Union (EU). To address this challenge and safeguard the country’s export opportunities, innovative post-harvest treatments such as the utilisation of hot water treatment (HWT) technique are being explored. A delegation from TradeMark Africa (TMA) recently visited the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi to assess the feasibility of installing HWT equipment. Later, the team had an opportunity to observe a prototype of the equipment at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), a renowned scientific research institution for innovative pest management technologies and practices. HWT is a proven method for eliminating quarantine pests such as fruit flies, while preserving the quality and shelf life of mangoes. By investing in HWT technologies, Kenyan exporters will be better prepared to meet the stringent phytosanitary standards required by major markets such as the European Union, United States, and Japan. This HWT will not only help exporters avoid costly rejections at borders but also improve their competitiveness in the global market. Moreover, it will have a positive ripple effect on smallholder farmers, boosting their incomes and livelihoods through increased export opportunities. As Kenya continues to explore new avenues to expand its agricultural exports, HWT presents a viable and sustainable solution for the mango industry.

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...

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 eight-year 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...

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry of Cote d’Ivoire in collaboration with TradeMark Africa (TMA) recently convened a two-day meeting for trade facilitation officials from Ghana and Côte d’Ivoire to deliberate on measures to enhance trade efficiencies between the two countries, focusing primarily on deepening customs cooperation. Facilitated with support from the UK International Development, the meeting drew participation from the Ministries of Trade, Industry and Commerce, Foreign Affairs and Customs Cooperation, as well as Customs Authorities, border agencies at Noe and Elubo, and local government authorities of the two countries. In his opening remarks, Mr. Sylla Kalilou, representing Côte d'Ivoire's Minister of Commerce and Industry, emphasised the importance of boosting trade across Africa, urging the two countries to lead by example in eliminating trade barriers, while lauding TMA’s participation in the trade enabling initiatives. The Deputy Director General of the Ivorian Customs Authority, Mr Louis Kadio, welcomed the initiatives as an example of strengthening South-South cooperation, and commended organisers for the laudable move to address challenges of interconnection and facilitate trade between the neighbouring states. The gathering reflected on the findings of a TMA-led missions that took place early this year, having identified numerous operational and infrastructure challenges impeding trade at Noe-Elubo borders – the busiest border crossing between the two nations along the Lagos-Abidjan Corridor. Among the challenges that were noted included poor state of border facilities (inspection bays, scanners, office blocks, parking lots), absence of laboratory, fire station, isolation centres for persons and animals and dedicated facilities...

Kenya's fresh produce sector is aiming for a double win: reducing greenhouse gas emissions and carving a bigger portion of the global export market by enhancing its competitiveness. To explore the way forward in achieving this, the BEEEP Logistics Working Group convened on 25 June 2024 to validate the study, “Masterplan for greater transition of horticultural  exports from air to sea freight.”   The masterplan outlines the strategies in the shift towards a multimodal approach that incorporates road, rail and maritime transport. This transition envisions over 80% of fruits being exported by sea by 2030, resulting in a significant 32% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in the value chain within the same timeframe. This ambitious target aligns with the growing global demand for sustainable agricultural practices. Furthermore, the masterplan projects increased exports to new markets, an expansion that has the potential to significantly boost Kenya's export earnings and create new green jobs within the sector.  In his opening remarks, Ahmed Farah, Kenya Country Director, TMA, said, “The modal shift is not just a good thing to do but also a viable and sustainable approach to adopt. Transitioning to sea freight requires significant investments in infrastructure and logistics. For instance, to ensure the quality of Kenyan fresh produce is maintained during longer journeys especially with the current rerouting from the Red Sea to the Cape of Good Hope, one requires robust cold chain infrastructure.” A more competitive and environmentally friendly export industry would not only benefit Kenyan farmers and businesses but also...

United Republic of Tanzania, Zanzibar, 25 June 2024: The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation and TradeMark Africa, has announced a four-year fisheries program to be implemented across seven countries to enable over 240,000 work opportunities and boost trade in fish and fish products by about $100 million by 2028. The “Women and Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries” program will enhance the participation of women and youth in fisheries in line with the adopted AfCFTA Protocol on Women and Youth in Trade. This announcement was made during the 14th Meeting of the Council of Ministers responsible for Trade in Zanzibar. The program is designed to address structural challenges women and youth face when participating in the fisheries value chain. It will offer training, facilitate access to markets and finance, catalyze supply chain linkages, create digital solutions, simplify trade regimes, enhance compliance to standards and enable streamlined cross-border market access. The program is a culmination of work between the AfCFTA Secretariat and the Mastercard Foundation. This work started with the development of the AfCFTA private sector strategy, where priority value chains were identified to boost intra-Africa trade and production. TradeMark Africa will implement the program to benefit Small, Medium and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs) in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Nigeria and selected Island states. Africa’s fisheries sector plays a major role in food security and the economic well-being for millions of households, with the World Bank noting that the...

The Kenyan Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) has launched the Integrated Information Management System (AIMS), a digital system designed to combat counterfeiting and safeguard intellectual property (IP) rights and the commercial interests of businesses. The system was unveiled during the opening of the 2nd International Symposium on Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement (ISIPPE) at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) in Nairobi. Themed “Uniting Against Counterfeiting for a Healthy and Safe Future,” the event aimed at enhancing collaboration and innovation in IP protection, raise awareness about the dangers of counterfeits, and highlight the importance of safeguarding IP rights for economic growth and public safety. Developed with support from the UK and Danish governments at cost of approximately $900,000 through TradeMark Africa (TMA), AIMS allows IP holders to register their IP rights (trademarks, copyrights, and patents) through a user-friendly online portal. This documentation establishes ownership and serves as a reference point for enforcement actions. The system also equips enforcement agencies with the capacity to identify and seize counterfeit goods in the market or at entry points and pave way for prosecution of the infringer. The launch was graced by the Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, Ms. Rebecca Miano. The event brought together key stakeholders, policymakers, and industry leaders to discuss the crucial role of IP protection in ensuring consumer safety, fostering innovation, and advancing healthy competition. “Consumer safety is paramount, and strong intellectual property enforcement is essential to protect the public from counterfeit goods,” CS Miano said in her opening...