Mombasa’s Momentum: Why International Recognition Matters

KPA boss William Ruto (left) with Netherlands Deputy Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Jaco Beerends (right) alongside Trademark Africa Country Director Ms. Lilian Mwai. (Photo/Courtesy) By Andrew Mwangura Email, [email protected] The recent commendation by the Netherlands Deputy Ambassador to Kenya, Mr. Jaco Beerends, on the progress at the Port of Mombasa is more than diplomatic politeness. It […]
Ouverture des frontières commerciales grâce à une nouvelle application de KRA

Les autorités ont lancé la plateforme numérique eCustoms App, qui vise à simplifier les échanges commerciaux, accélérer le dédouanement des marchandises et moderniser les opérations frontalières du Kenya. Ce système permettra à l’Autorité fiscale du Kenya (KRA) de traiter les déclarations en douane plus rapidement, sans papier et plus efficacement pour les commerçants, les transporteurs […]
Makueni mango output reaches 183,891 tons in Kenya

Makueni remains one of Kenya’s main mango-producing regions, with an estimated 183,891 metric tonnes harvested in the 2024 season out of the country’s annual output of about 650,000 metric tonnes. The county’s Department of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries, and Cooperative Development held a two-day forum with Trademark Africa, an EU-funded agency supporting fair trade and market […]
Brilliant Borders Kenya’s Customs goes digital

Busia, Monday 24 November 2025 – A smart digital solution to simplify trade, speed up clearance of goods, and modernise border operations has been launched today in Kenya, as part of a 15-year partnership to accelerate trade growth across the country’s borders. Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), in collaboration with TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the British […]
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. […]
Cooperatives catalyse safer and more profitable trade for women at the Kenya-Uganda border

Asmin Abdalla shares a moment with Mariam Mbaabu, chair of Busia Women Cross-Border Traders Cooperative. As the sun rises over Busia, the bustling border town between Kenya and Uganda comes to life. Traders haggle over prices, trucks roll through customs, and the scent of fresh fish fills the air. Among them is Natocho Susan Charity, […]
Why compliance is stifling Kenya’s fresh produce exports

By Lilian Mwai and Andrew Edewa In 2024, Kenya’s fresh vegetable exports to the European Union (EU) declined sharply by 54.7 percent, from 164,100 tonnes to 74,300 tonnes. This reduction in volume led to a corresponding drop in export earnings from Sh50.9 billion to Sh23.4 billion. The decline is largely attributable to the enforcement of stricter EU pesticide regulations, […]
Sweden Backs $2.7 Million Programme to Green Kenya’s Trade

Nairobi, Kenya, 29 May 2025 — Sweden has signed a $2.7 million agreement with TradeMark Africa to bolster sustainable and inclusive trade in Kenya. This two-year Kenya Enhanced Trade Environment and Inclusion (KETEI) programme will help Kenya achieve its national trade ambitions within various frameworks, such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The programme will do this […]
Digitalisation is changing trade, but we’re not there yet

Reflections from the EU-Kenya Business Forum 2025 At this week’s EU-Kenya Business Forum in Nairobi, TMA’s Director for Digital Trade, Erick Sirali, led a conversation on how digitalisation is transforming customs and trade facilitation. There was an acknowledgement that while Africa has made progress in digitalisation, the work ahead is considerable. We are talking, fragmented systems, redundant […]
Makueni County and TradeMark Africa to Establish Export Supply Hub for Horticultural Produce

Makueni County, Kenya, 05 May 2025 – The County Government of Makueni and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish an Export Supply Hub (ESH) set to transform horticultural exports originating from the county as well as the neighbouring counties of Machakos, Kajiado, and Taita-Taveta. The Hub is expected […]
