Rwandan flowers are featuring at The Netherlands, world’s biggest flower market place and the largest contributor to country flower exports (98%). The 10th International Floriculture Trade Fair (IFTF) will last for three days bringing together the world’s floriculture industry, to promote fresh flowers and plants, while aiming at increasing production and consumption. A delegation of two Rwandan flower growing companies (Bella Flowers and Bloom Hills) is attending this event. Mr. Shungo Harada, the Managing Director of Bloom Hills Company said that their participation will give them an opportunity “to interact with buyers, learn about prevailing market trends and understand the dynamics in the floriculture auction market.” Cynthia UWACU, the representative of National Agiculture Export Developmet Board (NAEB) who accompanied Rwanda’s exhibitors at IFTF 2019 believes that the fair is an opportunity to create international market linkages between Rwandan roses, summer flowers producers and international buyers. “We are here to create awareness of the ‘Rwandafresh’ brand on the global market,” she said. Participants also expect to draw lessons about “flower branding and tourism” from the Netherlands and replicate in Rwanda. The delegates’ participation in the IFTF 2019 will be guided by the vision “Enhanced Sales through Flower Branding and Tourism”. In the Fiscal Year 2018/2019 from July 2018 to June 2019 Rwanda exported 632,318 kilograms of flowers fetching $ 3,145,577. The current production acreage of flowers in Rwanda is targeting to be expanded from 40 hectares to more than 500 hectares in 2050. This year, Rwanda will be participating in IFTF...

Kenya on Wednesday launched an investment policy in order to boost foreign direct investment (FDI) in the country. Peter Munya, Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives said that the Kenya Investment Policy seeks to anchor the role of the private sector investment in economic development. "The ultimate objective is to position Kenya as a premier investment destination as well as a global leader in investment attraction and retention," Munya said. He said the policy is guided by seven core principles that emphasize the need for openness and transparency, inclusivity, sustainable development, economic diversification, domestic empowerment, global integration and investor centeredness. Munya said that Kenya has been lacking a well-articulated framework to grant and monitor existing incentives in line with the country's development goals and desired culture. "It will be the first time that Kenya has developed a national investment policy to optimize investment promotion, facilitation and management," Munya said. He said that Kenya has already formulated various strategies and policies that focus on investment growth and support, stipulated in various policy documents like the national development blueprint Vision 2030, but these programs and initiatives have had suboptimal impact. Kenya Investment Authority said the new policy will provide a roadmap for the country to increase its level of public and private investment to at least 32 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by the year 2030. Source: Xinhau

The World Customs Organization of East and Southern Africa on Wednesday dispelled fears that the coming into effect of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement was likely to affect revenue collection among countries in the African region. Larry Liza, director of the customs organization in charge of building capacity said countries will need to put in place implementation measures and legal frameworks aimed at protecting revenue collection. He said there was need for countries to look at a broader picture on what benefits were expected to be accrued from the agreement. "The market may seem to affect revenue collection, but the agreement is expected to be more beneficial to society through increased trade facilitation and business opportunities," he is quoted as saying by the state-run news agency, the Zambian News and Information Service (ZANIS). According to him there was no need for stakeholders to be agitated with the impending implementation of the agreement, adding that it will allow the business community to have access to foreign markets. Source: Xinhau

Kenya's has received a major boost in its efforts to build special economic enclaves after the World Bank came on board to provide technical support. The bank has approved a deal to offer advisory services in the development of a legal and regulatory framework special economic zones (SEZs) and proposed industrial parks. The SEZs are expected to play a big role in attracting high net worth investors into the country to mainly set up export-oriented enterprises. The project, whose budget is $4 million (Sh413 million) through December 2021, is being implemented by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) — the group’s arm that deals with investment and advisory services to encourage private sector development. IFC says in disclosures on October 30 the Kenya Investment Generation Project will help streamline the legal, regulatory and administrative environment for SEZ development. It also targets to boost the country’s industrial competitiveness by creating an environment for investment in quality and market demand driven industrial infrastructure and address bottlenecks hindering value addition and manufacturing, among other interventions. “The project will support Government of Kenya in the development of Special Economic Zones and industrial parks to attract targeted investors and developers resulting in new investments,” the IFC says in the disclosure. “This will ensure viability and economic usefulness of special economic zones and industrial parks in the context of Kenya’s public policy goals of increasing manufacturing share of GDP, boosting quality industrial infrastructure development and generating investments.” The share of manufacturing sector to gross domestic product shrank...

Leaders from Uganda and Kenya have resolved to enhance border patrols to ensure smooth movement of goods and people between the two countries. The resolution was reached during a special purpose joint border committee meeting at the Kenyan Busia town's One Stop Border Post (OSBP) boardroom. Government officials from the two countries convened the meeting to explore ways to cut down on tax evasion by traders smuggling goods across the common border. Busia county commissioner Jacob Narengo said the OSBP is the most important infrastructure for the two nations. Narengo said the movement of goods and passengers is a major challenge affecting trade at the facility, with most businesspeople preferring to use non-gazetted points. “It is also necessary that we ensure effective revenue collection for the two countries because if people can use the porous border, then it means the concept underlying URA and KRA will not be achieved due to numerous pilferages as some individuals try to enrich themselves,” he said. The administrator said that cartels behind vehicle theft were on the rise and the two countries have agreed to come up with measures to ensure that those who are behind the vice are apprehended and necessary action taken against them. “On the Kenyan side, we want to ensure that all goods pass through legal border posts, and they must be verified,” he said. Busia Uganda resident district commissioner Chris Mike Okirya said the porous border was one of the challenges facing the two countries. “We are going to...

Timely completion of infrastructure projects is a key ingredient to economic growth. It should be prioritized. This was a shared view at the recently held ‘Innovation Series’, a thought leadership forum organized by Brainchild Burson Cohn & Wolfe (BCW) at the Golf Course Hotel in Kampala. Experts at the forum urged the government and its partners to be more innovative to accelerate timely delivery of planned infrastructure and services to Ugandans in a bid to promote social and economic growth. The Acting Executive Director for Kampala Capital City Authority (KCCA) Eng. Andrew Kitaka said that Innovation in the infrastructure sector is no longer a need but a strategic necessity because it is a key catalyst for growth and development as well as a driver for better and sustainable business performance that leads to industry leadership. Kitaka said that young people should develop applications that will help in solving the traffic challenges in Kampala and the country at large. Andrew M. Mwenda, the founder and strategy and editorial director at The Independent Publications Limited, publishers of the weekly political and business magazine, proposed that KCCA should think of introducing a congestion charge to reduce traffic congestion. Mwenda argued that the levy would provide funds that the city authority would use to invest in infrastructure that is badly needed by city-goers. He also suggested there should be construction of satellite cities outside Kampala in addition to building ferries for water transport, all aimed at reducing congestion in the city of Kampala. According...

Kenyan and British authorities are working together to nab criminal networks in East Africa and beyond, especially those at the Port of Mombasa using the facility as a conduit for illicit trade. The two governments are rooting out illicit trade at the gateway to East Africa and safeguard a level playing field for legitimate businesses. In a joint statement from Commissioner-General of the Kenya Revenue Authority, Director of the Directorate of Criminal Investigations and Managing Director of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the agencies said they would continue collaborating with international partners in detecting, disrupting and deterring all forms of illicit trade at the Port of Mombasa. The multi-agency security team working at the Port of Mombasa has disrupted an international criminal syndicate that has been smuggling into the country vehicles stolen overseas through an intensified surveillance and enforcement measures at all ports of entry and exits. The coordination between these agencies has led to the seizure of illicit goods including 21 high-end motor vehicles that the syndicate had stolen from the UK and attempted to sneak into the country through the port. Intelligence shared among the agencies indicated that the four vehicles estimated to be worth Sh40 million had been stolen from Berkshire, London, and Oxfordshire in UK between November 11, 2018 and February 7, this year and shipped into the country. “The vehicles, were meant for sale in the East African market. The Kenyan authorities involved in the interception of the goods says the vehicles had been declared...

Kenya’s new Sh350 million world-class cruise ship terminal will be commissioned next month during the tourist arrivals peak season when luxury ships are expected to dock at Mombasa port. The terminal is expected to create 300 jobs directly, boosting local industries such as the transport sector, hotels, food providers and curio sellers. In an interview last week, Tourism and Wildlife Secretary Najib Balala, said the completion of the terminal —which is being constructed using a Sh250 million funding from the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and another Sh100 million from Trade Mark East Africa (TMA) — will give a much-needed lift to the sector’s fortunes. Industry players are now gearing up for the cruise ship peak season which is set to bring good tidings to the country as the construction of the cruise terminal at the port currently stands at 95 percent complete. On Sunday, the Port of Mombasa received MS Albatros, the first cruise vessel for the season carrying 446 passengers and 346 crew members. It was sailing from Zanzibar. While in Mombasa, the tourists toured the city, Maasai Mara, Tsavo National Park and Shimba hills. The new terminal includes duty -free shops, restaurants, conference facilities and offices for key stakeholders in the industry. The practical handover expected to take place in the next two weeks. The completion comes in time for the cruise tourism during the festive December period. “We are pleased to have this call from Ms Albatros; it is the first passenger cruise ship of 2019 docking...

With the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) set to officially start operating from July next year, there is need for concerted efforts to enlarge the group of State parties under the agreement in excess of the current 28 countries that have so far deposited instruments of ratification. Enlarging the group will see the continent creating a much bigger market that will ensure intra-African trade delivers, in particular by contributing to the continent's industrialisation and structural transformation processes thereby creating more job opportunities and reducing poverty along the way. This was said Tuesday by Stephen Karingi, Director of the ECA's Regional Integration and Trade Division, at the ongoing 23rd Meeting of the Intergovernmental Committee of Senior Officials and Experts (ICSOE) for Eastern Africa in Asmara, Eritrea. "To operationalize the AfCFTA, we need to finalize the remaining critical components like goods schedules and rules of origin. We also need to enlarge the group of State parties and to create institutions, establish operative mechanisms, and introduce obligations into law and regulation to effectively implement the AfCFTA," said Mr. Karingi. He said Africa also needs to take complementary measures to maximize benefits, in particular following AfCFTA national strategies; conclude Phase II negotiations, especially competition policy, intellectual property rights, and investment, and use the AfCFTA as a vehicle for achieving the African single market. Mr. Karingi said following the implementation of the AfCFTA, based on the sole reduction of tariffs on goods, Africa's GDP would increase under all scenarios. In preparation for July 2020,...

The Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Uganda, Hon. Sam K. Kutesa, Tuesday officially launched the 1st Uganda – Democratic Republic of Congo Joint Business Forum at the Ministry Headquarters. The Forum under the theme “Promoting Bilateral Trade, Investment and Connectivity for Mutual Peace and Prosperity” is being co-organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ministry of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Ministry of Finance, Planning and Development; in partnership with Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), Trademark East Africa and KTA Advocate. While speaking to the members of the Press, the Minister informed the Meeting that Uganda and the DRC enjoy fraternal and excellent bilateral relations. This is evidenced by the high level exchange of visits including at the level of Heads of State, Ministers and Senior Government officials. The two countries have established cooperation frameworks including the Joint Permanent Commission which have enabled the two sisterly states to achieve common goals and objectives. He further noted that the Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the key export markets for Uganda’s exports. Total exports for 2018 stood at USD 531m, with formal trade standing at USD 221m (Two Hundred and Twenty One Million) while, informal trade currently standing at USD312 (Three Hundred and Twelve Million). The 1st Uganda – DRC Business Forum will be presided over by H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and H.E. Félix Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo, President of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The objective of the Joint Business Forum...