Traders brace for higher costs as Tanzania joins Kenya in raising port tariffs
Traders across East Africa face rising costs after Tanzania introduced new cargo handling tariffs, just weeks after Kenya raised its own. The Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA) says the revised charges, effective from January 9, 2026, will increase port service fees by between 2 and 15 percent, adding fresh pressure to logistics and consumer prices in […]
Africa’s Entrepreneurs Confront Rising Non‑Tariff Trade Barriers
Africa’s trade challenges have shifted decisively. Tariffs, once the headline obstacle, are no longer the biggest threat. Instead, non‑tariff measures (NTMs)—fragmented standards, slow and inconsistent testing regimes, unrecognised certificates, and unresolved procedural disputes—are quietly shutting firms out of markets. TradeMark Africa’s (TMA) 2024–25 Annual Report underscores the point: “Tariffs are no longer the main obstacle to Africa’s […]
Elmy: From seaweed errand to blue economy trailblazer
Dar es Salaam. On a small island off the coast of Mkuranga, what began as a young woman’s errand quietly evolved into a national mission. In 2023, shortly after completing her undergraduate studies, Ms Farhiya Elmy travelled to Kwale Island to buy seaweed. Her mother had been advised to use it for reproductive health. But […]
HoBIS 2025 Strengthens Market Pathways for Tanzania’s Horticulture Sector
Dar es Salaam, 18 November 2025: Tanzania’s horticulture sector is shaping a more predictable and commercially viable future for farmers and agribusinesses as coordinated reforms and targeted investment strengthen market access and improve compliance systems. This direction was evident at the Horticulture Business and Investment Summit, HoBIS 2025, where over 400 growers, exporters, policymakers, financiers […]
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 […]
Tanzanian women traders find a digital lifeline and expand their businesses through iSOKO
Getruda Mushi CEO of Muge Africart holding on of her products. In Tanzania, where informal trade is widespread and access to markets and finance remains patchy, digital tools are beginning to reshape how small businesses operate. Platforms like iSOKO, a digital platform developed by TMA with support from Global Affairs Canada, help bridge the gap, […]
Tanzania Sets the Course for Sustainable Logistics at FIATA RAME 2025 Field Meeting
Zanzibar, Tanzania, 30 April 2025: Tanzania inaugurated the International Federation of Freight Forwarders Associations Region Africa and Middle East (FIATA RAME) Field Meeting, reaffirming its commitment to building a resilient and sustainable logistics sector as a cornerstone of Blue Economy growth. The two-day forum aimed to deliver practical reforms, foster global partnerships, and catalyse investment […]
Zanzibar Launches New Trade Reforms to Accelerate Business Competitiveness
From left to right: H.E. Omar Said Shaaban, Minister for Trade and Industrial Development, Zanzibar; H.E. Dr. Hussein Ali Mwinyi, President of Zanzibar and Chairman of the Revolutionary Council, and H.E. Dr. Selemani Saidi Jafo, Minister of Industry and Trade, United Republic of Tanzania, during the launch of the Zanzibar Trade Policy, Regulatory Reform Blueprint, […]
TWCC and TradeMark Africa Recognise Women Shaping Tanzania’s Industrial Future
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania 27 March 2025: The Tanzania Women Chamber of Commerce (TWCC), in partnership with TradeMark Africa (TMA), hosted the 5th Annual Tanzania Women Industrial Awards (TWIA) that brought together women entrepreneurs, policymakers, and trade stakeholders to mark two milestones: 20 years of TWCC’s efforts in supporting women entrepreneurs and five (5) years […]
EAC unveils Single Customs Territory platform for customs and port data exchange to ease trade
Unveiling of the Revamped Single Customs Territory Centralised Platform Enhances Regional Trade Arusha, January 27, 2025: The East African Community (EAC) Secretariat has launched the upgraded Single Customs Territory (SCT) Centralised Platform, a tool designed to facilitate the seamless exchange of customs and trade data in real-time among interconnected Partner States’ Customs and Ports Authorities. The […]