SUPPORTING SAFE TRADE IN KENYA
TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) and the European Union signed a €5 million agreement to support the Safe Trade Emergency Facility being implemented by TMEA in the region. The funds from the European Union will fund the Kenyan component of the programme making the EU the largest donor to the programme. The Safe Trade Facility is an emergency programme being rolled out by TMEA in the wake of COVID- 19 pandemic.
SAFE TRADE
Through support from its donors, TMEA partnered with the World Food Programme to promote safe trade and less congestion during screening of truck drivers for Covid-19 at the Uganda/Kenya Malaba and Busia borders. The partnership enabled delivery of two support tents that have been erected on each One Stop Border Post to create more space for screening cargo drivers.
EMERGING IMPACT, SIMPLI
FICATION WORKS!, LESS PAPERWORK
Until recently, exporters & importers of fresh produce to & from Kenya had to undergo a registration process that took between 10-28 days with the traders filling in a total of 13 docs! The process in now much faster! TMEA partnered with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to support the Kenya Trade Network Agency to develop the Information for Trade in Kenya Portal that serves as a one-stop shop for information on trade-related procedures.
FASTER PROGRAMMES
COVID-19 & THE EAC LOGISTICS SECTOR
TMEA is building on existing projects with governments and private sector to ensure continuity of domestic and regional trade in Eastern Africa, and that essential products flow unhindered across Eastern African borders. For example, with TMEA’s support FEAFFA has participated in ongoing campaigns for enhanced testing of truck drivers at the border points. This, a multi-sector team comprised of transport associations across the region observed, can be enhanced through deployment of more medical personnel and equipment to minimize the time taken by truck drivers at borders.
RESEARCH AND LEARNING
TMEA is continually collecting data related to its work at ports, along corridors and at various border posts. The main goal is to provide timely insights on the current and potential future impacts of
COVID-19 on trade in the region. We have also monitored and reviewed recently released reports, articles and analyses on COVID-19 related to trade and economic effects, globally and regionally.
MONITORING ILLICIT TRADE EFFICIENTLY
Through funding from the Department for Foreign Development, TMEA supported the Anti-Counterfeit Agency(ACA) in releasing findings of a National Baseline Survey on the extent of counterfeit and other forms of illicit trade in Kenya. The purpose of the study is to determine the extent and magnitude of illicit trade in the country. ACA also unveiled the National Illicit Trade Observatory (NITO), a tool that will enable monitoring of illicit trade in Kenya.