Country: Uganda

Uganda Shippers Council – Reduction in cargo transit time and costs for shippers.

[vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="Uganda Shippers Council – Reduction in cargo transit time and costs for shippers." implementor="Uganda Shippers Council (USC)" target_group="Shippers, transporters, exporters, clearing agents" project_value="US$130,000" implementation_period="2014 - 2016" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="#url"]African economies generally have the highest trade logistics costs in the world and the EAC is not an exception to this trend. In a recent study, estimates for Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda placed the average cost of trade logistics services at the equivalent of a tax of between 25 and 40% on value-added. The key factor for the ability of a country to participate in supply chains is the efficiency of local trade facilitation and logistics services. Improving logistics performance and facilitating trade have been estimated to have positive effects in expanding country trade, increasing trade impacts of lowering remaining border barriers by a factor of two or more. For landlocked countries to increase exports, infrastructure to facilitate rapid entry is required. However, landlocked countries are challenged by a lack of sites for production, low level of skills and high costs of power. What: This project aims to enhance competitiveness in the supply chain for importers and exporters (cargo owners) in Uganda by constantly engaging with regional transport policy makers to effectively advocate for a reliable logistics environment and participating in negotiations to reduce the cost of doing business for shippers in this country. The project will develop position papers for advocacy on auxiliary costs affecting Uganda shippers, policy brief on cheaper, alternative transport system, improve compliance by shippers...

Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP)

[vc_row][vc_column][rev_slider slidertitle="Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP)" alias="advocacy-and-monitoring-of-ntbs-banner-1"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP)" implementor="Revenue Authorities, Partner Government Agencies & IOTA" target_group="Exporters, Clearing and Forwarding agencies, Government agencies involved in export, Importers in the destination market, transporters" project_value="Est. $4,000,000" implementation_period="2019 – 2020" download_btn_text=" Visit TLIP Website" download_btn_link="https://www.tlip.io"] International trade is essentially an information-intensive exercise which requires the generation, transmission and storage of this information as a critical success factor for trade. One of the major challenges affecting international trade flows is the exchange of information between trade actors across borders. The lack of an integrated framework for information exchange across borders makes visibility of goods and services on transit practically impossible and hence no individual actor in the trade supply chain can account for what is being traded on with precise accuracy. The information that is exchanged across borders to support the trade supply chain is mainly through third parties, using manual documents that are susceptible to fraud, and many a times, not synchronized with the movement of the respective goods and services. The existing cross border trade information exchange framework is costly, inefficient, and inaccurate and lacks transparency. How the documents are generated and transmitted to/from destination/source markets has created doubts as there have been incidences of fraud and/or loss of documents. The resulting delays in the process has an impact on the durability (since most exports from EAC are agricultural goods) and competitiveness of these goods. What: The Trade Logistics Information Pipeline (TLIP) aims to address this challenge by...

Jinja Trade Logistics Cluster

[vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="Gulu Logistics Hub" implementor="Uganda Free Zones Authority" target_group="Importers, Exporters, Transporters, Regulatory Government Agencies" project_value="USD 520,000" implementation_period="2018- 2022" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="https://www.trademarkafrica.com/download/58530/"]Despite promising developments in Uganda, industrialization remains elusive. The Country continues to be heavily import-reliant, importing four to five times its exports, while regional trade remains low. Whilst much progress has been made with TMA’s support in reducing time and costs of trade in the region, and lowering import costs, there has been a muted production response at the firm level. Export profiles are still dominated by primary commodities with limited value addition. Unemployment is persistently high across the country, particularly amongst youth. Uganda put in place a national Industrial Policy in 2008 however its implementation remains a challenge. What: The Jinja TLC, which will be situated on a 20 acres parcel of land within the Jinja Industrial Park, is designed to unlock constraints to value addition in export-oriented sectors that have high growth potential for manufacturing and labour absorption, these include horticulture (fruit and vegetables), light manufacturing (automotive) and aquaculture. The TLC will provide storage infrastructure especially for horticulture produce, address issues of standards and compliance which are critical for competitiveness and export readiness. TMA plans to jump start growth in the country through a co-ordinated public private partnership approach with the Government of Uganda and the private sector. The approach is demand-led and aligned with the government’s industrialisation and export development strategies. These shall be achieved through promoting a localized economy in which many manufacturing companies,...

Uganda electronic cargo tracking system

[vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="Uganda electronic cargo tracking system" implementor="Uganda Revenue Authority" target_group="Importers and exporters" project_value="US$ 3,600,000" implementation_period="2013 - 2016" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="#url"]According to the URA, it costs transporters $200-250 per day when trucks are delayed along the transit routes. Part or all of this cost is passed on to the owner of goods. As a result, the cost of transport tends to increase the further inland the destination of cargo, not only because of distance but also the number of stoppages along the routes The major transit delays in the region include roadblocks by police and customs authorities, weighbridges, physical escorts and border clearance, and they vary from country to country. In Uganda, the major delays arise from physical escorts, which are considered a major non-tariff barrier in the region. URA further indicates that physical escorts in Uganda have the effect of increasing the transit period from 1 day to 3 - 4 days, effectively resulting into an estimated increase in transport costs of about $400 - $500, the additional cost paid as a result of the increase in transit period. What: The aim of this project is to implement an electronic cargo tracking system to reduce delays resulting from transit. How: TMA is providing financial and technical support to URA to implement the electronic cargo tracking system Contact: Moses Sabiiti, Email moses.sabiiti@trademarkea.com 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="43387" image_2="43391"]Uganda Revenue Authority improves the efficiency of customs processing resulting in higher...

SEATINI-Upgrading quality standards in agriculture for Uganda maize and sesame.

[vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="SEATINI-Upgrading quality standards in agriculture for Uganda maize and sesame." implementor="Southern and Eastern African Trade, Information and Negotiations Institute (SEATINI)" target_group="Maize and sesame farmers/producers" project_value="US$ 300,000" implementation_period="2014 - 2017" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="#url"]Maize and sesame sub- sector have been faced with the challenge of poor quality across the region resulting from low standards. This has subjected farmers and traders to losses as a result of their goods being rejected at the borders. A number of policies and NTBs continue to affect these 2 sub-sectors in Uganda as a result of failure to meet standards. The EAC Common Market Score Card 2014 (World Bank and International Finance Cooperation) identified Sanitary and Phyto sanitary measures with the most categories of NTBs. The study identified cumbersome testing and certification procedures; non-recognition of quality marks and SPS certificate from other partner states and stringent requirements for exports of products as the most issues related to SPS and technical standards. Most farmers are not yet educated about the importance of handling the produce carefully after harvest so the quality is often bad and it discourages the buyers. Since maize and sesame are grown by the poor communities, supporting export capacities in this area through reducing NTBs associated with differing national requirements for standards will mitigate poverty and protect Uganda maize and sesame exports from negative shocks as she opens up to her neighbors. What: This project aims to support SEATINI develop policy papers to advocate for implementation of EAC standards on maize; work...

Malaba OSBP (Uganda)

[vc_row][vc_column][custom_inner_menus select_menu="project"][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][single_project_block_1 heading="Malaba OSBP (Uganda)" implementor="Ministry of Works and Transport Uganda Revenue Authority" target_group="Importers, Exporters, Transporters, Cross Border Traders, Border Officials, Travelers " project_value="USD 4.2 million" implementation_period="2018- 2021" download_btn_text="Download Project PDF" download_btn_link="https://www.trademarkafrica.com/download/58515/"]The Malaba border is one of several border crossing points in the East African region designated to operate as a One Stop Border Post. However, there are physical and soft infrastructure challenges that prevent optimum operation of the OSBP. A dilapidated 1 km connecting road between Uganda and Kenya remains a huge bottleneck to one of the busiest borders in the EAC region, handling an average of 100 trucks per day. The road is narrow and in a very poor state causing traffic congestion and accidents that significantly slows down the flow of cargo and people across Malaba border and in turn substantially reduce the gains achieved along the Northern Corridor.  Additional challenges at the OBSP affecting efficiency include security of the premises, staff accommodation to enable 24-hour operation and additional parking lots for trucks. What: TMA is providing support to both Kenya and Uganda to complete construction of approximately 1 km road section connecting Malaba (KE) and Malaba (UG) OSBPs.   The project will also include works at Malaba OSPBP that will improve efficiency and security, these include expansion of the exit gate, completion of the parking yard, construction of a staff accommodation block, additional fencing and security lighting and repair of the old bridge. How: TMA, with funding from United Kingdom Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), is...