High costs of air travel in Africa stifle tourism
The high cost of air travel in Africa has been described as a barrier to tourism. Travellers within the continent not only pay higher ticket prices but also more tax to board a commercial aircraft. This emerged at the just-ended World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) global summit in Kigali, Rwanda. Speakers at the high-profile […]
Uganda, East Africa traders hopeful as global shocks ease
Uganda’s economic indicators spell better conditions for the private sector and business compared to other countries in the region, according to an expert study, the Africa Trade Barometer (ATB). Uganda’s overall macroeconomic conditions are “average with a slight positive outlook relative to the other countries in the Stanbic Bank Africa Trade Barometer.” “As such, Uganda’s […]
ACFTA: Leveraging continental integration for food security objectives
Africa is the most food insecure continent in the world despite its huge agricultural potential. In 2021, about a fifth of the continent’s population faced hunger. Furthermore, AU’s Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) Biennial Review report (2019-2021) reveals that the continent is not on track to meet its goal of ending hunger by 2025. […]
Mathuki: Somalia could join EAC this month
East African Community (EAC) Secretary-General Peter Mathuki says Somalia could be admitted to the bloc this month. An Ordinary Heads of State Summit is scheduled for November 23-24 in Arusha, and the region’s presidents are expected to endorse Somalia’s accession. Dr Mathuki told a panel at the Africa Investment Forum in Marrakech, Morocco, on November […]
East African Community to launch regional bond for goods
The East African Community (EAC) is set to launch a regional bond to enhance trade facilitation in the region and provide a cheaper and more efficient solution for the business community. This was revealed during a meeting between the EAC Secretariat and stakeholders to discuss the procedures and benefits of the regional bond in comparison to […]
Finland reiterates its commitment for enhanced partnership in trade facilitation initiatives
Finland’s Development Policy Committee visited the Port of Mombasa on 1 November 2023, where they were hosted by the Kenya Ports Authority‘s Managing Director Captain William Ruto to witness our joint trade facilitation projects. The delegation, including Finnish MPs, civil society actors and government representatives, led by Finland Deputy Head of Mission to Kenya and TMA’s […]
Launch of Port Projects in Kenya’s Lake Region to Catalyse East Africa’s Regional Trade and Integration
The Government of Kenya’s commitment to fast-track the construction of the Homa Bay Pier and other trade facilitation initiatives along the shores of Lake Victoria is expected to spur regional trade by reducing the time and costs of doing business. During his recent 4-day visit to the Nyanza region, Kenya’s President, William Ruto, launched several […]
Navigating a Sea Change: Kenya’s Horticultural Exports Forge Ahead
In an ambitious stride towards revolutionising the logistics landscape of Kenya’s horticultural exports, TradeMark Africa, in collaboration with the Kenya Flower Council, recently hosted the second Logistics Working Group meeting on September 14, 2023, in Nairobi. This marked a pivotal moment in the pursuit of transitioning from air to sea freight, a core objective within the European […]
Africa food forum roots for greater involvement of women and youth in intra-regional trade
The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) in partnership with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), TradeMark Africa (TMA) and Food Trade Coalition for Africa (FTCFA) converged in Tanzania at the 2023 Africa Food Systems Forum (AGRF), where they reflected on challenges and pathways for fair and inclusive trade environment for women and youth. With about […]
Compliance to Standards Boosts Rwanda’s Tourism Industry
Rwanda Standards Board (RSB) and TradeMark Africa (TMA)’s decade-long partnership to ensure standards and conformity assessment services are at the heart of fast-tracking trade have yielded tremendous results. Aside from reduced time required to purchase Rwanda’s standards from 5.2 days before 2021 to 4.1 hours after automating RSB’s systems, the interventions positioned 20 agrifood enterprises […]