[vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="South Sudan Customs management reforms" implementor="South Sudan Customs Service" target_group="Importers and exporters in East Africa" project_value="US$ 10,480,971.21" implementation_period="2011 - 2016" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="#url"]As part of the USAID-funded “Sudan Core Institutions Project” there was an assessment of the Customs Service in South Sudan. The report identified a number of “immediate critical actions”. These actions are considered essential before, or immediately after, independence to ensure that South Sudan takes steps towards establishing a fully functioning Customs Service. Customs is recognised as a key priority of GOSS as it takes steps to reduce its over-reliance on oil revenue by building up alternative revenue sources, especially customs duties. What The project aims at supporting the South Sudan Customs Services (SSCS) to become an effective and efficient agency able to support its government's objective of diversifying its revenue incomes while facilitating trade. How: TMA will provide and manage technical assistance to the Government of South Sudan to implement basic fundamentals of customs administration while laying a foundation for a wider customs reform strategy. Contact: John Kalisa, Email:[email protected] Click here to learn more about One Stop Border Posts Program[/single_project_block_1][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id="desired-result"][vc_column][single_project_block_2 heading="Desired Results" image_1="42708" image_2="42656"]Efficient customs processing and improved knowledge and skills of South Sudan’s customs service. This will contribute to reducing trade costs in East Africa.[/single_project_block_2][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id="project-insight"][vc_column][project_single_ele_3_container heading="More Project Insights." sub_heading="Projects Highlights From A Glance" slide_1="info access for 20 crops & over five breeds of livestock" slide_2="info access for 20 crops & over five breeds of livestock" slide_3="info access for 20 crops &...

[vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="South Sudan Bureau of Standards established" implementor="South Sudan Bureau of Standards" target_group="Importers, exporters and manufacturers" project_value="US$ 1,715,157.48" implementation_period="2012 - 2016" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="#url"]The Republic of South Sudan faces several challenges. To govern effectively, the country needs to establish effective state institutions as a basis for economic development and poverty reduction. As a country dependent upon imports, with limited exports beyond oil revenues, a modern and efficient Bureau of Standards aligned with South Sudan’s trading neighbours is of importance. How: TMA will provide technical assistance to SSNBS to support development of legal and regulatory framework and training SSNBS and non SSNBS quality officials. Procurements and contracting will be done by TMA. Contact: John Kalisa, Email: [email protected] Click here to learn more about One Stop Border Posts Program[/single_project_block_1][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id="desired-result"][vc_column][single_project_block_2 heading="Desired Results" image_1="42716" image_2="42708"]South Sudan National Bureau of Standards simplifies and increases the transparency of import/export procedures; producers improve the quality of products produced; bureau of standards staff and producers improve their understanding of standards and requirements. This will in turn lead to the national bureau of standards improving efficiency and effectiveness of testing.[/single_project_block_2][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id="project-insight"][vc_column][project_single_ele_3_container heading="More Project Insights." sub_heading="Projects Highlights From A Glance" slide_1="info access for 20 crops & over five breeds of livestock" slide_2="info access for 20 crops & over five breeds of livestock" slide_3="info access for 20 crops & over five breeds of livestock"][single_project_content]Key outputs for this project include: Institutional strengthening of SSNBS undertaken Technical Regulations Framework developed Upgraded/new laboratories and Metrology department of the Bureau operational in...

[vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="South Sudan Nimule OSBP construction" target_group="Importers and exporters, Private sector agents such as freight forwarders, and transporters; Border agencies; Revenue Authorities, Bureau of Standards, Immigration Authorities and Relevant government ministries" project_value="US$ 5 million" implementation_period="2018-2019" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="#url"]As the main gateway into Southern Sudan from the port of Mombasa, the Nimule-Elegu border post is of strategic importance to the EAC region. The border is extremely slow, and Nimule takes an average of four days to process imports. This delay imposes serious costs on traders. These time delays can be attributed to inadequate border infrastructure, insufficient quality and quantity of technical equipment, poor border design, complicated procedures based on centralized control, and multiple border organisations working in isolation. What: TradeMark Africa is financing an OSBP at Elegu, Uganda, and modernising and extending the facilities at Nimule, South Sudan. How: TMA will provide full funding for the construction of the OSBP. Harmonisation of customs procedures will be undertaken by a Joint Task Force of Experts from the two countries concerned and supported by TradeMark Africa. The project will be implemented in coordination with other ongoing initiatives of the World Bank, JICA, USAID, the African Development Bank and the European Union. TMA will engage consultants for design and supervise work. Contact: John Kalisa: Email:[email protected] Click here to learn more about One Stop Border Posts Program[/single_project_block_1][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row el_id="desired-result"][vc_column][single_project_block_2 heading="Desired Results" image_1="42728" image_2="42708"]Efficient border processing, improved knowledge and skills of border agencies and compliance with border procedures which will reduce waiting times at the...

TradeMark Africa (TMA), on 23 October 2024, hosted a delegation from South Sudan to discuss priorities for enhancing cooperation in various areas of trade facilitation to reduce trade bottlenecks in South Sudan and neighbouring countries in the East African Community. The meeting brought together officials from South Sudan’s Ministry of East African Community Affairs (MEACA), South Sudan National Revenue Authority (SSNRA), South Sudan National Bureau of Standards (SSNBS), Ministry of Transport and Roads, and the National Cross-border Women Traders Association (NCBWTA). Led by Beny Gideon Mabor, Undersecretary General at MEACA, and TMA CEO David Beer, the two delegations explored opportunities for deeper collaboration, including:  Re-establishing a National Oversight Committee (NOC) to strengthen coordination and oversight of trade facilitation initiatives supported by TMA. Prioritising completion and full operationalisation of the Nimule One Stop Border Post (OSBP) to improve cross-border trade and customs clearance efficiency. Phase 1, which included construction of the truck parking yard and inspection shed, was completed in  2020. Phase 2 works, which would see construction of staff quarters and administration buildings, are pending. Enhancing Standards, Sanitary, and Phytosanitary (SPS) Measures to ease compliance with regional standards and boost access to markets for products made in the region. Addressing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) to reduce trade costs and improve the flow of goods along the Elegu-Nimule-Juba Corridor, the wider northern corridor, and in the EAC region.  Strengthening institutional capacity for South Sudan's National Bureau of Standards and the private sector in addressing technical barriers to trade. Enabling women traders by...

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...

Members of European Parliament’s International Trade Committee, on November 3, 2022, held talks with teams from TradeMark East Africa, Kenya’s Ministry of Trade and regional private sector representatives on investment opportunities, trade relations and barriers. Led by committee chair, Bernd Lange, the team sought to understand key concerns around the interim Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Kenya and the EU and how trading between the two partners can be more mutually beneficial. Mr. Lange also highlighted the need to reflect on a regional perspective in the negotiations with Kenya, which is no longer categorised as a least developed country (LDC) as its East African Community (EAC) counterparts. While the country’s exports still benefit from preferential treatment, Kenyan exporters face stringent requirements on labelling, rules of origin and phytosanitary standards, according to the State Department of Trade. In the last half a decade, Kenya has been a net buyer of commodities from the EU, with imports hitting US$1.9 billion in 2019, less than half of the US$916 million Kenya exported to the EU, according to the Overseas Development Institute (ODI). Kenya exports mostly horticultural products. With favourable trade conditions and increased efficiencies in the production and supply chains, Kenya can significantly scale up its share of exports of cut flowers, vegetables, macadamia, avocados, sweet potatoes, pineapples, coffee, and apparel, in response to burgeoning demand in the EU. The delegation also heard of how Kenya and East Africa are positioned to tap into the immense potential of the African Continental Free Trade...

The COVID-19 pandemic has shaken the globe and disrupted the lives of billions of people in every corner of the world. Eastern Africa has not been left unscathed. The pandemic has affected trade and economic activity in a fundamental way. Whereas many have weighed the impact of COVID-19 on health terms, we in trade facilitation have seen firsthand how debilitating its impact has been to global trade, disrupting supply chains across the globe. This knowledge informed our quick adaptation, and helped to offset major trade disruptions experienced in the Eastern, Southern and Horn of Africa Region. The impact of COVID-19 hit TMA closer home. Cuts to donor funding caused by COVID-19 inflicted economic recession in donor countries necessitated a human resource restructuring process, and scaling down of programming. Nevertheless, TMA was resilient and delivered strong impact. I am honoured to mention a few of the interventions and associated impacts achieved in the last year, as I welcome you to read about many more in this annual report. SAFE TRADE Amongst the quick counter and cushioning measures we implemented were the Safe Trade Emergency Facility Programme (Safe Trade), a multi-donor funded and multi- stakeholder programme that enabled governments and communities to adopt short- to medium-term measures for safe continuity of trade. The innovation driving Safe Trade won an award during the Paris Peace Forum due to its focus on the immediate threat posed by the pandemic, and post- COVID-19 recovery that empowered communities to bounce back better. Recovery efforts have also...