Trade Experts Call for Reforms to Unlock Agricultural Market Access
NAIROBI, July 1, 2026 — Trade and agriculture experts have called for accelerated investment in trade infrastructure, stronger regulatory systems and effective implementation of regional trade agreements to unlock market access for African agricultural products and strengthen regional integration. The call was made during a TradeMark Africa-organised side event held on the sidelines of the […]
The Hormuz crisis: Shocks and tremors call for greater economic resilience
Priestly says the first and most visible impact is at the fuel pump. Higher energy prices are being felt directly by businesses and consumers. Fuel prices have tripled in Ethiopia and risen sharply in several other regional markets, including Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda. A crisis in the Strait of Hormuz may seem far removed from […]
Autonomiser les femmes commerçantes : Lancement officiel du projet « Making Trade Work for Women » (MTWW) au Togo
Le projet régional « Making Trade Work for Women » (MTWW) a été officiellement lancé ce jeudi 27 février 2026 à Lomé, en présence de M. Koffi Mensah, directeur de cabinet du ministère du Commerce, des institutions, des partenaires, et des organisations de femmes commerçantes. Cette initiative, déployée dans sa phase togolaise, ambitionne de renforcer […]
Modernization of border posts: TradeMark Africa equips Ivorian Customs with the support of the United Kingdom
The Ivorian Customs Administration has received a significant shipment of computer equipment donated by TradeMark Africa, with financial support from the UK-FCDO. This initiative aims to strengthen the technological capabilities of border posts, particularly at the Noé border crossing and in the eastern border areas with Ghana. At the official handover ceremony on Thursday, May […]
Trade facilitation: Ivory Coast accelerates its reforms to become a regional hub
The sixth meeting of the National Monitoring Committee (CNS) of the Trade Facilitation Programme was held this Wednesday, May 6, 2026 in Abidjan, with the ambition of consolidating achievements and giving new impetus to the reforms undertaken to facilitate trade in Côte d’Ivoire. Led by the Ivorian government with the support of TradeMark Africa, this […]
Africa Losing Billions as Trade Barriers Persist Despite Major Gains
The case for Africa as a global trade powerhouse is no longer in doubt. What remains unresolved is how quickly the continent’s leaders will act to remove barriers holding back growth. According to the East African Business Council (2023) report, East Africa loses an estimated $9–10 billion a year to non-tariff barriers, restrictions that continue […]
Kazungula OSBP begins 24-hour operations April 1
Preparations to transition the Kazungula One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) to 24-hour operations are underway, with full implementation scheduled for April 1. Addressing the Chobe District Development Committee recently, Kazungula Bridge Authority (KBA) executive director, Mr Mukela Muyonda confirmed that the authority had fast-tracked the rollout, following a directive from Presidents Duma Boko and Hakainde Hichilema […]
A trade gateway held back by red tape?
The Holili-Taveta border post, straddling the frontier between northern Tanzania and southern Kenya, has emerged as a rare bright spot in East Africa’s push for deeper economic integration. Official data and industry reports indicate that cargo throughput and export volumes have accelerated through the crossing over the past year, driven by improved customs infrastructure and […]
The Middle East crisis: A stress test for African trade resilience
The escalating Middle East crisis is emerging as a major stress test for Africa’s trade resilience, disrupting supply chains across the continent while also creating a potential opening for key ports in East and Southern Africa to capture more maritime traffic. With shipping once again diverting around the Cape of Good Hope amid the strategic […]
East Africa sets 2026 deadline to scrap trade barriers, but past disputes raise doubts
The decision, reached at the bloc’s 25th Ordinary Summit in Arusha on March 7, underscores efforts to remove longstanding obstacles that continue to slow the movement of goods across member states. Non-tariff barriers, ranging from bureaucratic delays and inconsistent standards to restrictive licensing regimes, have long raised the cost of doing business within the region. […]