Rwanda revenue Authority (RRA) has signed MOU’s and awarded certificates of recognition to twenty-two companies in Rwanda who have been granted special customs status as Authorized Economic Operators (AEO). The event was witnessed by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Vincent Munyeshyaka, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) Commissioner General, Richard Tusabe, Acting USAID Mission Director Leslie Marbury, TradeMark Africa (TMA) Country Director, Patience Mutesi, Private Sector Federation Chairman Benjamin Gasamagera and several business leaders. Speaking at the recognition ceremony, Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Vincent Munyeshyaka commended the companies that had attained the special status. “They have consistently demonstrated a very high commitment to comply with customs regulations and security procedures” he said. “An AEO certified company for example is not subject to physical inspections, queuing or immediate audits” The AEO concept is part of a broader compliance strategy to reward compliant traders with simplification benefits.  This reward and encourages compliance and stimulates foreign trade which contributes to economic growth at the national and regional levels. An AEO in Rwanda is an individual, a business entity or government department that is involved in international trade and is duly authorized by the Commissioner of Customs of the Rwanda Revenue Authority to self-manage key aspects of its customs processes previously handled by RRA. The objectives being to enhance trade facilitation, promote customs to business partnership, ensure security for the international trade supply chain, and encourage voluntary compliance to customs laws and procedures. The AEO programme at regional level started in 2008...

Bujumbura. Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has described Tanzania’s trade exhibitions held for the first time in Bujumbura as a trade opportunity for the two countries that needs to be thoroughly implemented for the economic benefits of the two countries. Tanzania Trade Development Authority (Tantrade) in partnership with Tanzanian Embassy in Burundi and Tanzania Ports Authority (TPA), jointly organised the trade exhibitions which concluded at the weekend to explore available business and investment opportunities in Burundi President Nkurunziza admired the quality of Tanzanian products when he toured the displays and called for maximum utilisation of business and investment opportunities. The exhibitions which started on September 27 closed in Bujumbura today, October 1. He said the trade exhibition was an indication of strong bilateral ties between Tanzania and Burundi. “Our bilateral ties are growing from strength to strength. I believe the objective of integration by East African Community (EAC) is through the exhibition of this nature being thoroughly implemented. I promise to support efforts to ensure economic growth of the two countries,” he said. The move increases confidence among Tanzanian organisers of the event over the market availability. Speaking at the same occasion, Tantrade board chairman Mr Christopher Chiza said it was a positive and encouraging move towards expanding the market of Tanzania’s goods beyond the borders. “When we succeed to access the Burundi market, it means we are expanding our market in the region. We are also eying the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo because we have been told that they...

Three flower firms, Wagagai Ltd, Ugarose Flowers Ltd and Jambo Rose  have pledged to invest $17.8m in Uganda’s  flower sector in the next 4 years aimed at increasing flower export volume on the global market. The investors said in Kampala that, the market is available on the international market but they cannot afford to maximize it due to limited production. This they tag to the high cost of growing flowers and the shortage of land, where they can establish more greenhouses used for flower growing. In the next 4 years, Wagagai Ltd will invest an additional $14.1m between 2017 and 2021. Jambo Roses pledged to add $1.8m while Ugarose Flowers will inject $1.9m in the same period. Daniel Kiryango the Jambo Roses Ltd Chief Executive Officer said their investment will enable them to procure more land for greenhouses expansion. They will also acquire more modern farming inputs and other mechanized equipment. “Our Directors have approved additional capital to be injected in the company. The target is to see that, we increase production capacity by using modern technology and expanding the farming acreage. “By 2021, we shall be in position to compete with our counterparts in other countries like Kenya and Ethiopia,” said Kiryango. Juliet Musoke, the Executive Director of Uganda Flowers Exporters Association said Uganda exports only 8,000 tons annually yet if they can address the challenges of lack of cold rooms at Entebbe Airport, high cost of Electricity and inadequate land for flower farmers, their export volume can hit...

The Community’s Director of Customs and Trade, Mr Kenneth Bagamuhunda, said here that the committee would supervise the implementation of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and trade facilitation plans. The director said that regional and national implementation plans for the WTO and TFA had since been finalised and adopted by the EAC policy organs. “Amendments of regional laws, regulations and procedures, development of project proposals for resource mobilisation and sensitisation of stakeholders is currently underway,” said Mr Bagamuhunda. He cited the Single Customs Territory (SCT) and the interconnectivity of customs systems among some of the key TFA components that have been implemented by the EAC. “The SCT provides for free circulation of goods, reduces cost of doing land’s Representative to the EAC, said that his country had since disbursed $3.5 million as part of its contribution to TFA trade facilitation support programme, a multi-donor window of the World Bank group’s trade and competitiveness global practice – which in turn provides support for countries seeking assistance in aligning their trade practices with the WTO. “Every country is eligible to receive support under the programme. Eligible countries are expected to have demonstrated a strong commitment to implementing trade facilitation reforms in the areas covered by the WTO/TFA. “Moreover, the support programme will prioritise assistance to countries with other limited access to other donor support,” said Amb. Mattli. He expressed dismay over bureaucratic delays and ‘red-tape’ which he said were an ‘unnecessary and expensive’ burden for traders moving goods across borders. ” However,...

The Ministry of Agriculture has banned export of unprocessed milk as part of efforts geared at streamlining the sector’s value chain. The ban is mainly targeting cattle keepers in the Western Province districts of Rubavu, Rutsiro, Nyabihu and Ngororero, and provides tough measures against those that will contravene the new guidelines on milk trade in the area. “According to an assessment conducted by the ministry, milk trade in the province is not being carried out in a professional and orderly manner as provided by the ministerial order N° 001/11.30 of 10/02/2016 regarding milk collection, transport and trading,” Minister for Agriculture and Animal Resources Dr Geraldine Mukeshimana said in the new guidelines released over the weekend. ““Therefore, the ministry in consultation with farmers, milk dealers and cooperatives and other players in the value chain in Western Province, we resolved to take strict measures against the disorderly milk trade to streamline the sector so that everyone involved can benefit more,” the minister added. According to resolution number two of the seven new measures, livestock farmers are restricted from exporting unprocessed milk. The farmers were advised to sell the milk to collection centres for onward delivery to milk processing plants. “The milk will be exported from the country only after it has been processed by accredited processing factories. “Besides, the milk transportation permits provided by the ministry, every supplier must be given a service card by the milk collection centres,” said the minister in the statement. She urged cooperatives that manage the collection...

Rwanda’s coffee, tea and crafts attracted overwhelming attention at the Hunan- African Goods Day exhibition in Hunan Province, South China. The expo was organised by the Hunan provincial government to promote African products and businesses, mainly agricultural, wood and leather products. Speaking at the trade fair, Rwanda’s ambassador to China, Lt. Gen. Charles Kayonga said that other than coffee, tea and handicrafts, Rwandan culture also impressed showgoers. “We screened videos showing Kinyarwanda dance, literature, tourism and music, which excited visitors,” he said. Kayonga said Rwanda welcomes Chinese businesses and tourists to visit the country, saying Rwanda is stable and safe and ready for business. The ambassador lauded efforts by the Chinese government toward development support of African countries. “We have reviewed the tax regime and business laws to attract more investors. The Rwandan people are very warm and our conservation efforts over time make us one of the best countries to visit in Africa,” Kayonga added. He urged the Rwandan private sector to take advantage of the big market China provides. “As Rwandans, we should look at China as a big export market for Made-in-Rwanda products. Therefore, participating in these exhibitions and seminars widens the market for home-made products,” he said. In his opening remarks, Chen Wenhao, the mayor of Changsha City, the capital of Hunan Province, said the exhibition was part of the belt and road initiative promoted by Chinese president Xi Jinping to support infrastructure development and facilitate trade connectivity between China, Asia, Africa and Europe. Chen urged...

Each year, the Ministry of Trade and Industry and Private Sector Federation (PSF) organises trade fairs to promote locally-made products and services. The tradeshows also act as platforms to sensitise Rwandans about the quality of Made-in-Rwanda goods to increase consumption and spur growth and reduce trade deficit, hence calling for sustained awareness campaigns about the importance of consuming locally-made products. The country is counting on Made-in-Rwanda to ensure sustainable growth. Made-in-Rwanda products helped reduce trade deficit by 25.6 per cent in the first half of the year to $671.2 million compared to $902.3 million same period last year. “PSF and other stakeholders will not relent in efforts geared at creating awareness and changing the wrong perception about local products held by many Rwandans until they fully embrace products made in the country for their good quality,” says Edmond Tumwine, the Private Sector Federation head of institutional relations and public private dialogue. The PSF official was commenting on the ended 4-day Iby’iwacu brand exhibition in Kigali last week. The expo targeted local small and medium enterprises (SMEs) giving them a platform to market and create awareness about their products. One of the exhibitors, Jean Luc Munyampeta, the director of RS Manna, said exhibitions present businesses an opportunity to understand better the needs of buyers through interactions and feedback from the public. “As snack (fried noodles) dealers, we are able to tell whether people like our products or not and to know what they think about them. This helps to gauge the...

TANZANIAN traders are expected to benefit as import and export will become easier thanks to the launch of an electronic Certificate of Origin payment system which is expected to enhance trade efficiency. The system under the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) project through financial support of TradeMark Africa was launched in Dar es Salaam over the weekend. It is to expedite application and issuance of delivery of Certificates of Origin (CO) by reducing physical movements and time taken to process the document and thus cutting on days of processing the vital certificates. Speaking at the event, TMA Tanzania Country Director, John Ulanga said, “We TMA are very happy to assist TCCAI on this project of LIPA FASTA system, because this is the aim of TradeMark Africa (TMA) which is growing prosperity in East Africa through trade. He said: “We believe that enhanced trade contributes to economic growth, a reduction in poverty and subsequently increased prosperity towards improving the business environment in Tanzania, promoting trade and bringing business prosperity in Tanzania”. Ulanga said TMA has spent more than 600,000 US dollars in achieving this project for the Tanzanian Industries and Agriculture Association, TCCIA, but also has supported Zanzibar Industries Association, ZNCCIA. The project has been made possible from the support of funds provided by the UK Government through its International Development Agency (DFID) through TradeMark, East Africa, (TMA) which oversees the implementation of the project. He said trade improvements, opening more opportunities for Tanzanians to trade, the rest...

The system under the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (TCCIA) project through financial support of TradeMark Africa was launched in Dar es Salaam over the weekend. It is to expedite application and issuance of delivery of Certificates of Origin (CO) by reducing physical movements and time taken to process the document and thus cutting on days of processing the vital certificates. Speaking at the event, TMA Tanzania Country Director, John Ulanga said, “We TMA are very happy to assist TCCAI on this project of LIPA FASTA system, because this is the aim of TradeMark Africa (TMA) which is growing prosperity in East Africa through trade. He said: “We believe that enhanced trade contributes to economic growth, a reduction in poverty and subsequently increased prosperity towards improving the business environment in Tanzania, promoting trade and bringing business prosperity in Tanzania”. Ulanga said TMA has spent more than 600,000 US dollars in achieving this project for the Tanzanian Industries and Agriculture Association, TCCIA, but also has supported Zanzibar Industries Association, ZNCCIA. The project has been made possible from the support of funds provided by the UK Government through its International Development Agency (DFID) through TradeMark, East Africa, (TMA) which oversees the implementation of the project. He said trade improvements, opening more opportunities for Tanzanians to trade, the rest of Tanzanians will enjoy the opportunities. He urged Tanzanians to grab the opportunities provided for by Trademark. “ Opportunities wait for no one, they are never lost, but can be taken by...

A total of 22 companies have been certified with a special customs status, Authorised Economic Operators (AEOs), to facilitate faster audits on port or customs house as well as reduce clearance time during cross-border customs clearance. The certified businesses include importers, exporters, transporters, freight forwarders, customs agents, bonded warehouse owners, manufacturers and terminal operators. The certification is in recognition for having consistently demonstrated high commitment to comply with customs regulations and security procedures. During the certification ceremony, Vincent Munyeshyaka, the minister for trade and industry, said the move will help boost trade for easy circulation of products in which the certified firms deal. “The more trade operators are facilitated, the faster the economy grows as imports help local industries to increase manufacturing. This will boost their trade growth as time taken on customs audits will be reduced,” he said, adding that the businesses should exploit the opportunity. The AEOs will benefit from eased procedures or facilitation at customs controls related to security and safety throughout the East African Community. William Musoni, the deputy commissioner for customs at Rwanda Revenue Authority, said the customs audit services will no longer be processed at the borders for the AEOs and will be prioritised to expedite clearance. “We have faith in them having evaluated their tax compliance processes over a long time. So this opportunity is due to their honesty and trust they have long built in our customs regulation body, both at the national and regional levels,” he said. Some of the criteria...