Experts on how digitalisation can drive cross-border trade, expand African exports
By embracing emerging technologies and building robust digital infrastructure, African countries can unlock new opportunities for businesses, improve access to global markets, and increase the efficiency of trade operations, officials said during the African Development Forum in Kigali, on December 2. The forum highlighted that digitalisation holds immense potential for transforming Africa’s trade landscape by […]
Digital technologies could unlock Africa’s trade potential, says Ngirente
Investment in Africa’s digital and technological capabilities is necessary to unlock the continent’s trade potential and accelerate economic growth, Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente said on Monday, December 2, as he opened the Africa Trade Development Forum in Kigali. Achieving this vision requires countries to adapt to the rapidly evolving trade landscape shaped by emerging technologies, Ngirente said, […]
How Rubavu port is set to reshape cross-border trade with DR Congo
The Ministry of Infrastructure will, Friday, December 6, officially launch the Rubavu Port, a modern facility set to boost trade not just in Rwanda but across the region. As the country’s largest port, the facility is expected to help ease cross-border trade and enhance connectivity between Rwanda and DR Congo, and support local communities through increased economic […]
Global Affairs Canada and regional partners commit to boost women’s participation in West African trade
In a meeting held in Nairobi, TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the Centre for International Studies and Cooperation (CECI) discussed the roll out of the Making Trade Work for Women in West Africa (MTWW) programme. Funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), the programme is designed to break down gender-specific barriers that restrict the participation of women […]
Tanzania Sets Bold Agenda to Transform Trade and Investment, Driving Economic Growth and Global Competitiveness
Dar es Salaam, 6 December 2024: Tanzania’s trade and investment ecosystem is at a crucial juncture, with the private sector contributing 33% to GDP and over 80% of formal employment, according to World Bank data. The Annual Trade and Investment Dialogue 2024 convened more than 400 business leaders, policymakers, and development partners to address critical […]
Digital Innovation and Regional Collaboration Essential Drivers to Transforming Africa’s Trade Future
The recent commemoration of the 25th Anniversary of the East African Community (EAC) offered an excellent opportunity to reflect on its achievements, confront persistent challenges, and outline the path forward for advancing regional integration. A notable focus of the celebration was the role of digital innovation in addressing cross-border payment inefficiencies, with technologies such as […]
Horticulture exporters find $2.8m niche in UK
EIGHT Tanzanian exporters have secured agreements to deliver 960 metric tonnes of fruits and vegetables to Britain, estimated at $2.8m annually if it is sustained. Anthony Chamanga, the Tanzania Horticultural Association (TAHA) chief development manager, said at a press conference yesterday that horticultural farmers are staring at an export windfall as the UK’s broad and […]
USAID Equipment Donation to Streamline Trade Clearance Processes and Improve Access to Government Services at EAC Border Posts
November 20, 2024, Nairobi, Kenya. USAID today flagged off technology equipment worth $33,000 to four East African Community (EAC) land border posts – Lwakhakha (Kenya/Uganda) and Loitoktok/Tarakea (Kenya/Tanzania) to enhance the operational efficiency of cross-border regulatory agencies better facilitating trade, cargo clearance, and cooperation among customs authorities and partner government agencies. The purchase of the equipment […]
Rwanda’s horticultural enterprises take a leap towards standards compliance for global market access
Rwanda Inspectorate, Competition, and Consumer Protection Authority (RICA), in partnership with TradeMark Africa and the International Trade Centre (ITC), has concluded a four-day training for horticultural producers under the Value-added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE). This marks a significant step toward enhancing the capacity of Rwandan horticultural producers to access global markets. The training, held […]
Making history: First Rwandan women-led business exports full container of avocadoes
On October 4, 2024, Bahage Foods Ltd made history as the first Rwandan woman-led business—and the fourth ever in Rwanda—to export a full container of 22 tonnes of Hass avocadoes. This achievement highlights the immense growth potential of Rwanda’s agricultural exports, especially for horticultural businesses led by young women, who face compounded, gendered barriers in accessing productive resources, packaging, start-up capital, […]