Rwanda’s SOUK Farms marks milestone with inaugural 24-tonne avocado shipment to the EU
Rwanda began on a high with SOUK Farms, a Value-added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE) programme participant, dispatching its inaugural consignment of Hass avocados to the European Union (EU) on 4 September 2025. Weighing in at 24 tonnes, the shipment travelled from Kigali via the Mombasa–Rotterdam Sea route, marking the company’s transition to full capacity […]
Les acteurs du secteur de la pêche en Zambie réfléchissent à des pistes pour une croissance durable et inclusive de la chaîne de valeur
Le secteur de la pêche en Zambie s’est engagé à adopter une approche renouvelée et coordonnée en faveur d’une croissance durable et inclusive lors d’un appel lancé lors du Forum national des parties prenantes du secteur de la pêche, qui s’est tenu du 11 au 13 août 2025 à l’hôtel Holiday Inn de Lusaka. Cet […]
L’Ouganda lance la construction du premier marché transfrontalier résilient au changementclimatique, adapté aux personnes handicapées et sensible à la dimension de genre à Elegu
L’Ouganda s’est rapproché de la résolution des problèmes chroniques liés aux infrastructures, à l’assainissement et aux vulnérabilités climatiques cycliques qui affectent les commerçants de la ville d’Elegu, une zone commerciale clé du nord de l’Ouganda, grâce au lancement de la construction d’un marché résilient au climat et sensible au genre, d’un montant de 9,9 millions […]
Working with exporters to enhance their export capacity – The Case of SOSOMA Industries Limited in Rwanda
1. BACKGROUND The overarching goal of Rwanda’s Vision 2020 is to transform the country into a lower middle income economy by improving its competitiveness while ensuring unity and inclusive growth and development. Significant strides towards achieving this vision have been made especially regarding improvements in the country’s business environment and competitiveness. The African economic outlook […]
Rwanda’s meat sector receives a boost as young inspectors step up to the plate on standards enforcement
When 29-year-old veterinary graduate Ernest Ngabonziza completed his six-month training as a private meat inspector (PMI) in June 2025, he walked away with a certificate and a vision for both sustainable employment and a chance to build something bigger in his life. Prior to this, he was practicing as a veterinary officer for seven years […]
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. […]
Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana to deepen border reforms and coordination for seamless regional trade
During a joint mission at the Noé–Elubo border on 12 June 2025 Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana have taken a significant step toward improving cross-border trade efficiency with the validation of a major study on Coordinated Border Management (CBM). This occurred during a joint mission held at the Noé–Elubo border on 12 June 2025. The high-level […]
Faith and farming drive a Tanzanian export success story
Beneath the scorching sun, Pastor Clement Manyata, the CEO of Fresh Field, walks through rows of lush green fields, watching as workers carefully harvest fresh vegetables. Nearby, crates are stacked in neat aisles, ready for export. Such a sight once felt like an impossible dream. Today, Fresh Field Manyatta exports vegetables, including bitter gourd (bitter […]
Ethiopia’s Horticulture Sector Goes Digital with New Knowledge Management and E-Learning Platform
Addis Ababa, 29 May 2025 – The Ethiopian Horticulture Producer Exporters Association (EHPEA), funded the European Union (EU), through Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and TradeMark Africa (TMA), has launched a fully functional online Knowledge Management and E-Learning System. The platform is designed to strengthen workforce capacity, improve industry standards, boost sector competitiveness, and enhance […]
Juiced up for success – How a Rwandan entrepreneur is turning fruit into fortune
Hawa Chloe Niyigena, Whiz Upp Founder, turned a small fruit-processing business into a cross-border success. Cross-border trade in Africa is rarely about just having a good product. For most small businesses, the real hurdle is compliance, meeting multiple national and regional standards that determine whether, for example, a fruit puree clears customs or gets turned […]