TradeMark Africa

For over a decade, the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has been a valuable partner in TradeMark Africa’s work at the Port of Mombasa. Through our partnership, we have promoted trade and enhanced the port’s global competitiveness by rolling out targeted improvements including deepening port berths, parking yards, access roads and terminals on one hand and digitisation of processes, acquisition of modern handling machines and training of port staff on the other hand, all with an eye on reducing the time it takes to evacuate cargo from the port. With support from multiple donors, TMA has invested about $120 million at the port, with the goal of ensuring that the port facilitates trade efficiently for the benefit of over 250 million people it serves across the Eastern Africa region. The UK has been a major supporter of the improvements at the port. So, yesterday, the British High Commission Nairobi’s High Commissioner Neil Wigan led a delegation to see first hand some of the emerging benefits from completed works and what else remains to be done. He was hosted by TMA CEO Dave Beer, Ag. Kenya Country Director, Dr. Eng. Hannah Ngugi and #KPA GM of Operations, Dr. Sudi Mwasinago. The mission learned some of the emerging results as the reduction of travel time on Mombasa’s roads which has decreased by an average of 54%. The container yards can now hold more containers with over 600 slots added subsequently increasing the annual capacity to 170,000 TEUs. With the installation of solar panels under the green port policy programme, the port now generates solar energy for workshops and other office use, therefore cutting on energy costs and reducing reliance on non-renewable sources. Ship offloading time has been reduced from 11 days to 5.5 days following the introduction of eco-hoppers and mobile harbour cranes. Later, our CEO Dave Beer spoke at the British Chamber of Commerce Kenya and British High Commission roundtable, where he spoke about our work and vision for expanding trade opportunities under the UK-Kenya Strategic Partnership. Leigh Stubblefield Richlove Mensah Joy Keiru Anne Nalo Allen Sophia Asiimwe Ann Shiro M. Simon Konzolo Elizabeth Gathogo Job Wanjohi Muriithi, HSC Wambũi Mũrĩmi Anthe Vrijlandt Ann Shiro M. Dr. Monica Hangi (Ph.D hc) Martha Bande

The East African Community Secretariat (EAC) has officially unveiled the Single Customs Territory (SCT) Centralised Platform to enable real-time exchange of customs and trade data among Partner States’ Customs and Port Authorities. The launch, held at the EAC Secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania, coincided with International Customs Day under the theme “Customs Delivering on its Commitment to Efficiency, Security, and Prosperity.” EAC Secretary General H.E. Veronica Nduva highlighted the platform’s role in addressing customs delays, non-tariff barriers, high transaction costs, and trade inefficiencies. Since its introduction in 2017, the platform has supported intra-regional trade, exports, transit goods, and certificates of origin. A 2023 upgrade added maritime trade integration, regional Authorised Economic Operators (AEO), and mutual recognition for clearing agents. In 2024, scanner image sharing between Kenya and Uganda further enhanced transparency and efficiency. The platform was developed with the support of the governments of the UK and the Netherlands. Dave Beer Allen Sophia Asiimwe Dr. Monica Hangi (Ph.D hc) Ann Shiro M. Anthe Vrijlandt Benedict Musengele Aby Agina BUSINGYE Flavia Allan Odhiambo Erick Sirali East African Business Council Duncan Onyango World Customs Organization Veronica M. Nduva, CBS KRA(KENYA REVENUE AUTHORITY) Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA). Rwanda Revenue Authority

📌 Fresh in from the Ethiopia-Djibouti Boosting Business Conference (BCC) in Addis Ababa: On day one, Djibouti and Ethiopia stakeholders reached a consensus to #accelerate the #establishment of the Djibouti-Ethiopia #CorridorManagementAuthority and #strengthen the technical committee by incorporating decision-makers from both the government and private sectors, such as customs and chambers of commerce. All with an eye on cutting the costs and time of trade along Ethio-Djibouti Corridor by 10% and 15% respectively. #EnhanceTrade #ImproveLogistics #StrengthenRegionalIntegration along the Ethio-Djibouti Corridor. Achaa Abdillahi Ahmed Abenet Bekele yetmgeta girma Eugene Torero Magita Fredy PMP Angus Miller Allen Sophia Asiimwe Ann Shiro M. Eve Muthoni Joanita Nakimuli Kennedy Waituika, CFE,CPA, CIA

TradeMark Africa and Auxfin Burundi Burundi, with funding from Feed the Future USAID, are championing a brighter future for smallholder farmers in Burundi through the Economic Recovery and Reform Activity. The partners are championing innovative Agri-Tech initiatives for economic empowerment and agricultural transformation. Read more about how this timely collaboration is set to unlock new opportunities for Burundi’s farming communities: https://lnkd.in/dQHrK7Ws #ResilientAgriculture #AUXFIN.G50 #AgriTech #Burundi #FarmingForTheFuture https://lnkd.in/dFsGtnGt ___________________________________________________________________ TradeMark Africa et Auxfin Burundi, avec le financement de Feed the Future USAID à travers l'Activité de Relèvement et de Réforme Économique, défendent un avenir meilleur pour les petits agriculteurs au Burundi. Grâce à des initiatives agricoles innovantes, ils ouvrent la voie à l'autonomisation économique et à la transformation agricole. Lisez la suite pour découvrir comment cette collaboration opportune est destinée à ouvrir de nouvelles opportunités pour les communautés agricoles du Burundi : https://lnkd.in/d5G2rnRf https://lnkd.in/dFsGtnGt

Tender Opportunities at TradeMark Africa! TradeMark Africa invites qualified and experienced firms to participate in these exciting tender opportunities aimed at driving growth in intra-African trade and fostering economic development. If your firm has the expertise to deliver exceptional services in the listed areas, we would like to encourage you to explore and apply. Visit https://lnkd.in/eKs7gZPm for more details. Submission deadlines range from 27 January 2025 to 10 February 2025—don’t miss out! #TenderOpportunities #KeepAfricaTrading

The Business Environment and Export Enhancement Programme (BEEEP), funded by the Delegation of The European Union to Kenya convened a Public-Private Dialogue to strengthen the export performance of vegetables, avocados, and mangoes. Delegates were introduced to Easetrade, a fintech platform co-founded by Trade Catalyst Africa and The Trade Development Fund - TDFD (TDF), designed to improve trade finance access for MSMEs. A presentation on the Trade Barriers Needs Assessment highlighted and prioritised key challenges in the horticulture trade, setting the stage for targeted interventions. The forum addressed critical sub-sector issues, including pest management, regulatory levies, system outages, and the transition from air to sea freight in light of the Red Sea crisis. It concluded with actionable recommendations such as adopting scientifically driven pest management strategies, streamlining regulatory regimes, strengthening public-private dialogue, and providing tailored support for the air-to-sea freight transition across value chains. Dave Beer  Allen Sophia Asiimwe  Mark Priestley  Dr. Eng. Hannah Ngugi Dr. Monica Hangi (Ph.D hc) Elizabeth Gathogo Job Wanjohi Simon Konzolo Wambũi Mũrĩmi

Today, TradeMark Africa (TMA) Deputy CEO Allen Sophia Asiimwe and Director for Business Competitiveness Anataria Uwamariya held a high-level meeting with officials from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) to explore opportunities for potential collaboration on green trade initiatives in Africa. The discussions revolved around leveraging both organisations’ expertise in trade facilitation, climate change, and environmental sustainability in alignment with global efforts to achieve net-zero targets while fostering economic growth through green and resilience trade. The UNEP delegation, led by Dr. ROSE MWEBAZA, Director and Regional Representative for Africa, and Rajiv Garg, Head of the Kenya Country Programme, Regional Office for Africa, also delved into how they could jointly work towards supporting Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises #SMEs in adopting technologies that can enhance their adaptation and resilience to the adverse effects of climate change. TMA’s commitment to environmental protection is evident through various initiatives, including, but not limited to: ==> Collaborating with partners such as the Kenya Ports Authority to develop sustainable port operations, exemplified by the Mombasa Port Green Port Policy. ==> Incorporating climate considerations into infrastructure projects such as the Hargeisa Bypass Road and the Ruzizi II One Stop Border Post to mitigate climate impacts like landslides and flooding. ==> Implementing a program designed to support the shift of the shipment of Kenya’s horticultural produce from airfreight to sea freight, to combat carbon emissions. Additionally, as part of its ongoing commitment to combating climate change, TMA collaborated with UNEP, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH, and other stakeholders to support the Smart Freight Centre and the Kuehne Climate Center to launch the Green Freight Support Programme in August 2024. This initiative aims to decarbonize logistics across Eastern Africa by promoting sustainable freight practices. Dave Beer United Nations Climate Technology Centre & Network (CTCN) Ann Shiro M. Anthe Vrijlandt Victor Ong'ele Mark Priestley Dr. Eng. Hannah Ngugi Trizer Omugar Samwel Maphie Njoki Mungai Dr. Monica Hangi (Ph.D hc) Gloria Atuheirwe Sylviah Luseno - MCIPR, MPRSK, PRSK Warrior Awardee

Trademark Africa is thrilled to announce new framework agreement opportunities, open for applications until 31 January 2025! We’re seeking partners who share our commitment to fostering cross-border trade and advancing economic growth across Africa. If your organisation is aligned with this vision, now is your time to make a difference. Discover more about these opportunities and apply here: https://lnkd.in/g9rTGgbg. #TrademarkAfrica #CollaborationOpportunities #EconomicGrowth #AfricaDevelopment

Tender Opportunities! TradeMark Africa invites interested and qualified firms to participate in the following tender opportunities as we strive to drive growth in intra-African trade and economic growth. If your firm has the expertise and experience to deliver high-quality services in the outlined areas, please, explore the opportunities and apply here: https://lnkd.in/eKs7gZPm   Submission deadlines range from 15 to 27 January 2025. Don’t miss out!   #TenderOpportunities #KeepAfricaTrading

Trade Facilitation Report: Driving African Trade Through Digitalisation TradeMark Africa (TMA) launched its inaugural Trade Facilitation Report at the Africa Trade Development Forum 2024 (#ATDF24) in Kigali, on 3 December. The report explores, among other issues, the transformative power of digitalisation in reducing trade costs and time; lessons and opportunities for improving Africa’s trade environment and how addressing disparities in policy and digital infrastructure can unlock intra-African trade potential. The report underscores the message: Investing in trade facilitation drives growth for businesses and consumers alike. 📖 To access the report, scan the QR code or find it here: https://lnkd.in/dTA-9UkX #TradeFacilitationReport #DigitalTrade #KeepAfricaTrading #ATDF24 #AfCFTA Dave Beer Sophia Allen Anthe Vrijlandt African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat Rwanda Trade Portal Rosine Uwamariya #HMDessalegn Duncan Onyango Rwanda Convention Bureau - RCB Ann Shiro M. Trade and Logistics Information Pipeline IOTA