Cutting red tape for resilient trade, one procedure at a time
Simplification works. Exporters, and importers of fresh or dry produce to Kenya are required to register with Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS). Until recently, this registration took between 10 to 28 days with the traders completing a total of 10 steps and filling in 13 documents. A time-consuming effort that was also costly. Simplification […]
Building bold businesswomen, one at a time
The Editorial of Burundi’s Jimbere Magazine recently remarked that the TradeMark Africa (TMA) Women in Trade programme has, “Offered hundreds of Burundian women and girls the opportunity to learn and achieve their dreams. It has restored their pride in earning incomes, enabling them to become taxpayers and therefore contribute to the development of the country. Before […]
COVID-19 accelerates greater trade coordination in East Africa
It took a traffic jam of a couple thousand trucks at the Malaba border between Kenya and Uganda to fully visualize both the health and trade issues at stake when borders operate at optimum.The COVID-19 crisis has revealed both hairline fractures along borders in East Africa and the potential to solve them through better regional […]
Fast Track compliance programme a boon for businesses in Uganda
Authorised Economic Operator programme earns rewards for traders For business owners, time is money and delays that hold up delivery of goods represent loss of potential earnings. In Uganda, an AEO programme funded by United Kingdom’s Department for International Development (DFID) through TradeMark Africa (TMA) is helping businesses overcome delays by encouraging voluntary compliance. Richard […]
Supporting Rwanda farmers to reduce losses and access markets
For many farmer cooperatives across Rwanda, especially those that farm staple crops, access to finance has always been an issue and this is complicated by post-harvest losses that discourage finance providers from investing in agriculture. Positively, the government of Rwanda is undertaking improvement in infrastructure such as cold storage facilities, road and air transport to […]
TradeMark Africa Climate Change Strategy 2018 – 23
1. Background TradeMark Africa’s (TMA) mission is to promote regional trade, economic integration and competitiveness in East Africa. The region faces significant long-term risks from climate change (CC) because the economies are highly dependent on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture. This proposed Climate Change Strategy complements TMA’s Corporate Strategy 2018-2023 by building climate resilient […]
The resilience of a Uganda woman trader has moved a community of 4000 from challenge to success
In Gulu, Northern Uganda, Santa Joyce Laker leads a cooperative society of 4,070 farmers and traders, 3,000 of whom are women. Her story is an example of recovery and resilience after disaster, rising to succeed against the impact of conflict that plagued the region for almost 20 years. From rape to death of loved ones, […]
Accessing Global Markets: Rwanda’s Game-plan in Getting Standards Right
How can Rwanda get more of its domestic products to international markets? A key element in achieving this goal requires applying rigorous requirements to food, animal and plant exports, known as Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) measures set by importing countries to address food safety, animal health and plant health risks that may be carried by […]
Roaring Cross-Border trade lifts thousands of women out of poverty in Rwanda
In Rwanda from the capital city of Kigali to the borders with Democratic Republic of Congo or Uganda, cooperatives are building socially and economically resilient communities. TMA has interest in supporting women economic empowerment and this is being shown by its recent financial commitment to increase funding to women programmes. As well as its partnership […]
A Green Port. What is It Worth?
A few years ago, the cargo handling section of Mombasa port teamed with dusty and sweaty workers busy hauling heavy packages on their backs, from the warehouses to the waiting lorries. Injuries and chest pains were a norm. One of these workers was Humphrey Agini. He recounts how the polluted and risky work environment caused him […]