Source: Financial Times

  Source: The Washington Post

JAPAN has pledged to allocate 20 billion US dollars (about 50tri/-) to African countries, Tanzania inclusive, in the next three years to support strategic projects and spur economic reforms in the continent. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe disclosed the hefty funding during the official opening of the seventh edition of the Tokyo International Conference for African Development (TICAD), which kicked off in Y okohama, Japan, yesterday. Mr Abe observed that Japan will continue to expand cooperation to develop Africa’s human resources, improve elementary education for children and help establish universal health care coverage. He noted that the established cooperation between Japan and Africa is further strengthened through TICAD, pledging to encourage the Japanese private sector to advance investment in the continent. According to Premier Abe, investments by Japanese companies in various African countries to date stand at around 20 billion US dollars. Expounding further on various programmes executed by Japan, including the ABE-African Business Education Initiative, the premier noted that over 350 youth are being supported to pursue practical trainings, with 3,000 others going through the programme as trainers. He maintained that Japan remains committed to support the health sector particularly on areas of medicines, nutrition and trainings on capacity building in the various African countries. He also pledged to continue supporting the continent in developing infrastructure, including roads, ports as well as technical support. Prime Minister K assim Majaliwa who is attending the meeting on behalf of President John Magufuli noted that Tanzania is among the largest producers of...

Freight forwarders, transporters and related industry representatives gathered at the Kigali International Convention earlier this week to discuss weighty regional freight issues at the 3rd Global Logistics Convention. And although it was a two-day global talk shop that strove to cover logistics from across the world, the emphasis fell on regional rail enhancement, the transportation of water, and corruption – three crucial elements that top the agenda in the East African Community. Rwandan daily, New Times, reported that at Monday’s opening session, the country’s permanent secretary for trade and industry, Michel Sebera, “said that the logistics sector is central to economic development and requires attention if countries are to succeed in their development initiatives”. Abhishek Sharma, transport director at TradeMark Africa, said: “The main player that invests money in logistics infrastructure is the government. “But the main user of the infrastructure is the industry, the freight forwarders, and others. It is very important that when we are planning logistics, there is a constant dialogue between the government and the logistics players.” In recent times, Sharma said, “constant dialogue” between all concerned have ensured significant logistical improvements for land-locked Rwanda’s central and northern corridors through Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. It had resulted, he said, in the substantial reduction of transit times and road haulage costs. On the central corridor alone, Sharma explained, the average speed of a truck travelling cross-border had doubled, from 7km p/hour to 14km p/hour. Switching to corruption, Denis Karera, vice-chair of the East African Business Council, said it...

TradeMark Africa (TMA) has announced funding the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) with USD3.5 million to support a four-year program that aims at enhancing skills for customs agents, freight forwarders and warehouse providers in East Africa. The program implemented by FEAFFA across East Africa will offer timely training that is in tune with changing technologies and logistical needs, thus enabling customs agents and freight forwarders to provide competitive and high-quality end to end services. The two institutions made the announcement as they signed a grant agreement at the ongoing Global Logistics Convention in Kigali. Speaking at the event, Ms. Ithau said, “The high logistics costs in East Africa are driven not only by the high cost of inputs required for delivery of goods but also the inefficiencies and poor quality of logistics service delivery.” On his part, Mr. Seka highlighted important components of the program saying, “One key component is the updating of the East Africa Customs and Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC) curriculum and training materials. A strong warehousing module will be introduced to address the skills gaps in this critical element of logistics. We have focused on enhancing FEAFFA’s online learning program as this will ensure that training is available and accessible in many parts of the region. With this funding, FEAFFA will introduce a higher – level qualification that will build on the success of the certificate program. The higher-level training program intends to expose practitioners to global practices and position them as global...

Rwanda has implemented a number of trade facilitation initiatives including, Rwanda Electronic Single Window, which has enabled faster clearance of imports and exports. By Our Correspondent August 30, 2019: At the 3rd Global Logistics Convention, $3.5 million deal was signed between Trade Mark East Africa and the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Association (FEAFFA), to raise capacity in East Africa’s logistics sector. The convention is held at the Kigali International Convention Centre, Rwanda from August 29–30. The four-year EAC Logistics Sector Skills Enhancement Program funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) through TradeMark Africa, and implemented by FEAFFA; will address existing skills gaps in the region that have since resulted into high costs of doing business within the community. The programme will help build skills of customs agents, freight forwarders and warehouse operators. TradeMark Africa’s director, Patricia Ithau and FEAFFA president Fred Seka signed the agreement. During the 3rd Global Logistics Convention, PS @mikesebs said that this convention will offer a unique opportunity to professionals in the transport and freight logistics sectors from all over the world while sharing best practices with transporters and logistics policy makers.pic.twitter.com/nsb0cjqJhJ - Min of Trade |Rwanda (@RwandaTrade) August 29, 2019 After the signing, Seka said the funding will facilitate introduction of a higher-level qualification that will build on the success of the certificate program, such as exposing practitioners to global practices and position them as global logisticians. “The gender gap is still prevalent in the logistics sector. Women make up to only 20 percent...

Logistics is an important sector that is central to seamless trade. Although infrastructure remains the biggest challenge to the sector, inadequate skills among professionals is another impediment. Bucyana Murekezi, Chartered Member of the International Institute of Logistics and Transport (IILT) joins CNBC Africa for more. Source: CNBC Africa

Matthew M. Gibson, Co-Founder, CEO & President Syngrafii Inc. has teamed up with TradeMark Africa to provide The EAC Secretariat with a better and faster solution for the execution of critical official documents, simultaneously taking care of the confidential information. FREMONT, CA: Syngrafii Inc. and TradeMark Africa (TMA) have collaborated and further allied with The EAC Secretariat to transform the procedure of executing agreements between the Partner States by deploying a digital channel for the signing of official documents. TMA has facilitated a digital channel's deployment within The EAC Secretariat, where the first Syngrafii LongPen was installed along with Paper to provide enhanced operational performance, more significant geographic market reach, and speedier document execution for The EAC Member States. This will serve distinct government initiatives and their respective business units together with their partners as well as the constituents they serve. Syngrafii was featured in CIO Review as one of the 20 Most Promising Cisco Solution Providers - 2019. It is the sole organization in the world that offers the choice of executing original biometric ink signatures upon hard copy or electronic documents when and wherever it is needed. Syngrafii's HTML5 web-based signing solution, LongPen applies one-time use original wet ink signatures, each biometrically accurate and with a unique feature. This patented device ensures regulatory, legal, and internal compliance adherence. Similar to LongPen, sPaper is also a patented HTML5 web-based solution, which supports remote signatures on desktop computers, smartphones, and tablets. It provides live, interactive, and collaborative group sessions with the...

Over the past 5 years, the East African Community (EAC) has reduced the bottlenecks on both the central and northern corridors as a way of facilitating trade in the region but despite this a number of challenges hindering the logistics industry still remain. Director of Transport at Trademark East Africa (TEA), Abhishek Sharma joins CNBC Africa for more. Source: cnbcafrica

Wealth and Prosperity comes from Trade – says H.E. Yoweri Museveni The EAC Must Embrace Free Trade; it's is Critical to the Survival of Partner States- says H.E. Yoweri Museveni Government Partnership with Private Sector is vital for Wealth Creation and Prosperity  in the EAC DOWNLOAD VIDEO: Entebbe, Uganda, 24th August 2019:- The East African Business Council pays a courtesy visit to H.E. Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda and Member of the Summit of EAC Heads of State at the Entebbe State House, Uganda. Leading the EABC delegation, Mr. Nick Nesbitt, EABC Chairman, was accompanied by Mr. Patrick Bitature, PSFU Chairman and EABC Board Directors namely Mr. Mwine Jim Kabeho, EABC Vice-Chairman & Director, Madhvani Group of Companies, Hon. Peter Mathuki, CEO EABC, Mr. Chris Diaz, EABC Board Director & Group Director Bidco Africa Ltd, Mr. Godfrey Simbeye, CEO Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF), Mr. Gideon Badagawa, CEO PSFU,  Mr. Simon Kaheru, EABC Board Director, Ms. Merian Sebunya, Director PSFU & Member EABC, Ms. Waturi wa Matu, Senior Director, TradeMark Africa and Mr. Moses Ogwal, PSFU. “Your Excellency, first and foremost allow me, on behalf of the business community and private sector in East Africa congratulate you and more sincerely thank you not only for engaging closely towards a common vision with your counterparts in the other EAC Partner States but also for being a steadfast believer in regional integration,” said Mr. Nick Nesbitt. Mr. Nesbitt further appreciated H.E. President Museveni for resolving border misunderstandings for the common good of the East African...