Safety and efficiency at Rusizi and Rubavu ports herald new chapter for Lake Kivu trade
The waters of Lake Kivu have long been crucial for trade between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), but for many boat operators and traders, navigating the lake was as much about managing risk as it was about reaping opportunities. Vincent Twizeyimana, a boat operator at Rusizi Port, remembers a time when outdated […]
EU-supported initiative advances Tanzania’s trade facilitation by addressing NTBs
Reducing the cost and time of trade across Tanzania’s corridors is central to improving competitiveness. Yet, non-tariff barriers (NTBs) such as roadblocks, duplicative standards, and inconsistent border procedures, continue to hinder the free flow of goods, even where tariffs have been liberalised. In response to this persistent challenge, more than 50 representatives from the Government […]
Tanzania’s Horticulture Moves Up the Value Chain from Farm to Global Buyer
In Tanzania’s Southern Corridor, avocado growers are recording higher export volumes, better prices, and stronger market linkages. Over 10,000 farmers have been connected directly to 24 off-takers, avoiding losses to middlemen and securing more predictable incomes. Certification to international standards such as GLOBALG.A.P has opened access to high-value markets in Europe and Asia, with rejection […]
Cutting feed costs to unlock sustainable fisheries growth
Feed remains the biggest cost driver in Africa’s fisheries production, accounting for an estimated 60–70% of total outlays. A two-day (4–5 September 2025) meeting in Nairobi set out a practical plan to bring those costs down while lifting output and standards across the value chain. The engagement was part of the Women and Youth Economic […]
Tony Blair Institute provides African leaders a roadmap to accelerate the world’s largest free trade area
27 August 2025 – The Tony Blair Institute for Global Change (TBI) has released a new paper The AfCFTA Imperative: From Vision to Impact providing Africa’s leadership with an actionable roadmap to implement the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and drive economic transformation. The paper builds on TBI’s previous publication Africa First: A New […]
East Africa’s newly unveiled regional customs bond to facilitate smooth trade in East Africa
Uganda’s Minister of State for EAC Affairs, Rt. Hon. James Magode Ikuya with EAC SG, Hon. Veronica Nduva launching the EAC Bond The East African Community (EAC) has taken a major step towards streamlining regional trade with the launch of the EAC Customs Bond, a mechanism designed to reduce the cost of doing business and […]
Rwanda’s newly minted private meat inspectors on the frontlines to boost food safety, create jobs for youth
Annick Dusengimana (centre) and other participants during the graduation ceremony Kigali, Rwanda – On 27 June 2025, thirty-five young Rwandans were certified as private meat inspectors after completing an intensive six-month training programme. This initiative was specifically designed to enhance food safety standards and create valuable employment opportunities within Rwanda’s expanding meat industry. Their certification […]
How better logistics could unlock Kenya’s full potential in horticultural exports
By the time a crate of French beans meant for export leaves a farm in Kirinyaga County in Kenya, it has passed multiple sanitary and phytosanitary checks. The farmer has done everything required to meet the expectations of the destination market. But despite these efforts, unforeseen risks often come after the farm gate. Somewhere between […]
Study proposes solutions to trade barriers holding back Kenya’s fresh produce exports
Kenya’s exports of fresh fruits and vegetables continue to face a host of trade barriers that undermine their competitiveness in major international markets, according to a new study. Commissioned as part of the European Union-funded Business Environment Enhancement and Export Promotion (BEEEP) Programme that is implemented by TradeMark Africa, the report identifies both tariff and […]
“Trade is Peace. Integration is Power.” TradeMark Africa UK Mission Underscores True Engines of Growth
LONDON. 7 July 2025 — In a world racing toward regionalism, the Africa integration story often gets obscured by its own complexity. Yet last week in London, a compelling narrative emerged — one of deliberate transformation, driven not only by policy frameworks but by the quiet, technical work of institutions that understand trade from the ground […]