Feasibility Study on the Establishment of an Online Portal for Trading in Freight Services (e-freightex) in East Africa

Stakeholders pose for a group photo during the National Fisheries Stakeholders Consultative Workshop held in Kisumu, Kenya, on 26–27 June 2025 National Fisheries Stakeholders Workshop Deliberates on Policy Coordination, Gender Inclusion, and Trade Opportunities under the Fisheries Programme. Kenya's fisheries sector holds immense potential to drive inclusive economic growth and regional trade, but only if policies are harmonised, coordination is strengthened, and women and youth are fully empowered to participate meaningfully. This was the rallying call from stakeholders who gathered in Kisumu from 26 to 27 June 2025 for a national fisheries workshop intended to strengthen cross-border trade and unlock opportunities for women and youth in the sector. The two-day event was convened under the Women and Youth Economic Empowerment in Fisheries through Inclusive Market Access programme, a four-year initiative led by TradeMark Africa and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. The initiative is being implemented in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Zambia, Nigeria, across 11 border crossings, and in select island states in Africa. Kennedy Onyango, the County Executive Committee Member (County Minister) for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries for Kisumu County, Kenya speaking at the Workshop. The programme seeks to dismantle structural barriers that prevent women and youth from fully participating in the fisheries value chain, thereby enhancing their potential for economic growth. Main objectives include the provision of training, strengthening of supply chain linkages, promotion of digital solutions, simplification of trade regulations, enforcement of standards, and...

By the time a crate of French beans meant for export leaves a farm in Kirinyaga County in Kenya, it has passed multiple sanitary and phytosanitary checks. The farmer has done everything required to meet the expectations of the destination market. But despite these efforts, unforeseen risks often come after the farm gate. Somewhere between the packhouse and the port, the cargo faces various risks including delays, disruption of the cold chain, inconsistent handling and ultimately, the produce arriving late, warm or spoiled. In a global market where shelf life is money and freshness is reputation, these risks carry serious consequences. This week, public and private sector actors came together to address one of the most pressing challenges in Kenya’s horticultural value chain. The convening was supported by our development partners: the European Union, the Netherlands and Denmark through the Business Environment and Export Enhancement Programme (BEEEP), and the British High Commission in Nairobi through the Regional Economic Development for Investment and Trade (REDIT) programme. It was facilitated by TradeMark Africa. The discussions focused on advancing the export of fresh produce by sea. To this end, stakeholders across Kenya’s horticultural export value chain negotiated a Service Level Agreement (SLA) that could transform how produce moves from farm to ship. The SLA is the first of its kind in scope focusing on export of horticultural produce, covering: Collection at the farm gate Packhouse processing Regulatory and customs clearances Road and rail transport to port Port gate-in, yard operations, and ship loading...

Kenya’s exports of fresh fruits and vegetables continue to face a host of trade barriers that undermine their competitiveness in major international markets, according to a new study. Commissioned as part of the European Union-funded Business Environment Enhancement and Export Promotion (BEEEP) Programme that is implemented by TradeMark Africa, the report identifies both tariff and non-tariff barriers (NTBs) that persistently affect the country’s avocado, mango, and vegetable exports. The study, which covered the period from 2018 to 2022, evaluates the performance of 11 main export categories comprising avocados, mangoes, and nine types of vegetables, which are classified using the internationally recognised Harmonised System (HS) at the 6-digit level. This approach allowed researchers to trace product flows, map leading export destinations, and isolate specific market access challenges encountered by Kenyan producers and exporters. One of the major sticking points is the inconsistent application of tariffs, particularly Most Favoured Nation (MFN) rates, across different markets. While countries with preferential trade agreements, such as the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement, apply lower duties, others continue to impose standard MFN rates. These disparities increase the landed cost of Kenyan produce and erode its price advantage on the global stage. Beyond tariffs, the study highlights an array of NTBs that act as hidden obstacles to trade. These include stringent sanitary and phytosanitary requirements, varying labelling standards, and bureaucratic inefficiencies that delay shipments or deny market entry altogether. Such barriers, as defined by the World Trade Organization, are non-tariff measures that distort trade either by raising prices...

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 processes, and limited data-sharing that continue to hold us back. Africa’s vision for seamless cross-border trade, No Stop Borders, future, that featured heavily in TMA’s Africa Trade Development Forum in Kigali in December 2024, demands fast-tracked reforms that support cross-border data flows and data governance. A compelling real-life example was presented by Billy Ngumi of KenTrade who painted a picture of how things used to be at Moyale, the Kenya–Ethiopia border before the Kenya National Electronic Single Window was implemented. He said that, clearing agents in Moyale would crisscross Marsabit County, collecting customs documents, then travel the 777 kilometres to Nairobi, which fyi, is an 11-hour one-way trip, just to submit paperwork, make payments and get approvals. Then, they’d return to Moyale to deliver the documents to traders. The entire cycle could take over a week, just to move goods from Ethiopia into Kenya. But now, with Kenya National Single Window System, agents can apply, pay and receive approvals online. What once took days, and a road trip now takes minutes and a few clicks. Trade moves faster. Paperwork is instant. And a trader in Moyale doesn’t have to wait for someone to make a cross-country trip to Nairobi. In the real life...

L'industrie kenyane de la mangue a subi d'importants revers en raison de l'invasion de la mouche des fruits (Bactrocera dorsalis), qui a conduit à de nombreuses interceptions de cargaisons de mangues par l'Union européenne (UE). Pour relever ce défi et préserver les possibilités d'exportation du pays, des traitements post-récolte innovants tels que l'utilisation de la technique de traitement à l'eau chaude (HWT) sont à l'étude. Avec le soutien du programme de renforcement de l'environnement des entreprises et des exportations (EU-BEEEP) financé par l'UE, une délégation de TradeMark Africa (TMA) a récemment visité la Direction des cultures horticoles (HCD) à l'aéroport international Jomo Kenyatta (JKIA) de Nairobi pour évaluer la faisabilité de l'installation d'un équipement de traitement à l'eau chaude. Plus tard, l'équipe a eu l'occasion d'observer un prototype de l'équipement au Centre international de physiologie et d'écologie des insectes (icipe), une institution de recherche scientifique réputée pour ses technologies et pratiques innovantes en matière de lutte contre les ravageurs. Le traitement des eaux usées est une méthode éprouvée pour éliminer les parasites de quarantaine tels que les mouches des fruits, tout en préservant la qualité et la durée de conservation des mangues. En investissant dans les technologies de traitement des eaux usées, les exportateurs kenyans seront mieux préparés à répondre aux normes phytosanitaires strictes exigées par les principaux marchés tels que l'Union européenne, les États-Unis et le Japon. Cet investissement permettra non seulement aux exportateurs d'éviter des rejets coûteux aux frontières, mais aussi d'améliorer leur compétitivité sur le marché mondial....

Kenya’s mango industry has faced significant setbacks due to the invasive fruit fly (Bactrocera dorsalis), which has led to numerous interceptions of mango shipments by the European Union (EU). To address this challenge and safeguard the country’s export opportunities, innovative post-harvest treatments such as the utilisation of hot water treatment (HWT) technique are being explored. A delegation from TradeMark Africa (TMA) recently visited the Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD) at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi to assess the feasibility of installing HWT equipment. Later, the team had an opportunity to observe a prototype of the equipment at the International Centre of Insect Physiology and Ecology (icipe), a renowned scientific research institution for innovative pest management technologies and practices. HWT is a proven method for eliminating quarantine pests such as fruit flies, while preserving the quality and shelf life of mangoes. By investing in HWT technologies, Kenyan exporters will be better prepared to meet the stringent phytosanitary standards required by major markets such as the European Union, United States, and Japan. This HWT will not only help exporters avoid costly rejections at borders but also improve their competitiveness in the global market. Moreover, it will have a positive ripple effect on smallholder farmers, boosting their incomes and livelihoods through increased export opportunities. As Kenya continues to explore new avenues to expand its agricultural exports, HWT presents a viable and sustainable solution for the mango industry.

Nairobi, 8 February: The Government of the Netherlands, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in a significant boost to global trade development, has announced a $63 million funding to TradeMark Africa, a leading aid-for-trade organisation. This strategic investment will fuel TradeMark Africa's Strategy 3, covering the period till 2030, aimed at driving green, sustainable economic growth, fostering innovative trade practices, and promoting inclusive trade across Africa. This move underscores the Netherlands' commitment to enhancing economic opportunities, job creation and facilitating sustainable trade throughout the continent. Marchel Gerrmann, Ambassador for Business and Development Cooperation at Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said: “TradeMark Africa will significantly contribute to a more inclusive and prosperous trade landscape for the African continent, benefitting both African and Dutch businesses." The Netherlands’ contribution will be invested in strengthening trade systems so that they benefit local exporters, foster economic growth, and create sustainable livelihoods across diverse sectors. This investment will be instrumental in improving market access for local products at the global level, in addition to bolstering initiatives that drive innovation, research, and development within the African market, enhancing competitiveness and green trading practices. As part of its Africa Strategy, the Netherlands contributes towards the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The AfCFTA is expected to boost intra-African trade over 30% by 2045 and is projected to provide an average extra 2.7% GDP boost across the continent. The AfCFTA could lift 30 million Africans out of poverty by 2035, offering market opportunities to both African...

The Government of Kenya's commitment to fast-track the construction of the Homa Bay Pier and other trade facilitation initiatives along the shores of Lake Victoria is expected to spur regional trade by reducing the time and costs of doing business. During his recent 4-day visit to the Nyanza region, Kenya's President, William Ruto, launched several infrastructure and logistics projects, including commissioning of the newly built MV Uhuru II cargo ship at the Kisumu Shipyard, construction of the Homa Bay pier, and several roads slated for an upgrade to bitumen standards. These projects are proof of the productive partnerships between the Kenyan government and its development partners, aimed at enhancing digital and physical infrastructure, thereby boosting efficiency in trade and transport sectors. The pier, a structure extending from the shoreline into the lake, will facilitate the loading and unloading of cargo from ships. It is part of a series of efforts to enhance the connectivity of Kisumu in Kenya to Entebbe and Jinja in Uganda, and Mwanza in Tanzania via the lake, deepening trade and transport across the three countries and generating thousands of direct and indirect jobs. The construction of the pier is scheduled for completion in six months and is fully funded by the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA). The design and supervision works are funded by Denmark through TradeMark Africa. Civil works entail the rehabilitation of the causeway and jetty head, the construction of standard buildings, including a waiting lounge and attendant amenities, a cargo warehouse, a perimeter fence,...