TradeMark Africa

On the back of #Canada's Africa Strategy announcement and International Women’s Day 2025, we were delighted to join Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada, CECI, Ministry of Trade and Industry Ghana, diplomatic corps and private sector for the launch of the Making Trade Work for Women in West Africa (#MTWW) project in Accra, Ghana. Despite West Africa's trade potential, women traders: ⚠️ Grapple with limited access to markets, financial services, and essential training opportunities ⚠️ Earn lower incomes and running smaller-scale businesses compared to their male counterparts ⚠️ Face harassment, gender-based violence (GBV), and systemic barriers at border crossings. ⚠️ Deal with additional burdens of productive and reproductive roles. The project will address these economic and social disparities by promoting sustainable trade practices that uplift marginalised groups, with a particular focus on women. Activities will directly target 80,000 beneficiaries, 70% of them women, an additional 20,000 traders indirectly, and sensitize up to 50,000 more through campaigns, across six countries: #Benin, #BurkinaFaso, #Ghana, #IvoryCoast, #Nigeria and #Togo. CECI and TMA will implement MTWWW’s strategy which includes use of digital tools, financial literacy programmes, advocacy for gender-responsive trade policies, and institutionalization of impactful innovations within regional economic plans and strategies. Expected outcomes are: ✅ Increased number of women traders using sustainable practices by 50%. ✅ Enhanced income levels of participating women traders by 40%. ✅ Broad dissemination of knowledge and good practices on women, trade, environmental sustainability, and climate change across Africa and Canada. #LetHerTrade #CanadaAfrica #TradeWithAfrica #WomenInTrade #WiT #WomenEmpowerment #MTWWW #KeepAfricaTrading Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada Trade Commissioner Service | Service des délégués commerciaux The Canada-Africa Chamber of Business CECI Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA), ASSOCIATION OF TRADERS OF COTE D'IVOIRE Dave Beer Allen Sophia Asiimwe Anthe Vrijlandt Njoki Mungai Joanita Nakimuli Josepha Ndamira Kwamina Sagu Ekremet Ann Shiro M. Emilly O. Hellen Oriaro Gloria Atuheirwe Anataria Uwamariya Collins Afful Quansah CA

LIVE from Accra, Ghana: join us for the launch of "Making Trade Work for Women in West Africa", a programme that will be implemented in 6 West African Countries with funding from Global Affairs Canada | Affaires mondiales Canada. The programme, implemented by CECI and TradeMark Africa, will empower women in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Togo through trade by advocating for policies that work for all, providing platforms that make it easy to access information, and facilitating initiatives that break barriers, boost economic opportunities, and promote gender equality. Join in and be part of the change! #CanadaAfricaTrade #WiT #WomenInTrade #WestAfrica #Empowerment #KeepAfricaTrading

Today, we had the honour of hosting Their Majesties, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands, at the Naivasha Inland Container Depot (ICD). Their visit reaffirmed the deep-rooted trade ties between Kenya and the Netherlands, that have delivered real impact: lowering trade barriers, slashing costs of trade, and making doing business across borders smoother. Our Deputy CEO, Allen Asiimwe, using a miniature model of the Northern Corridor, capturing Gulu in Northern Uganda to Mombasa Kenya, took them on a journey through our trade facilitation work, showcasing how partnerships have transformed trade across the region. Some notable milestones include: ✅ Addressing non-tariff barriers to ease cross-border trade in Africa ✅ Digitalisation of trade systems for efficiency, transparency and predictability in trade transactions ✅ Bringing renewable energy and e-mobility to the port of Mombasa ✅ Supporting the shift from air to sea freight for sustainable horticultural exports. The Netherlands is a supporter & champion of our work in pushing for regional economic growth. Dutch companies are major investors in Kenya and East Africa. The Netherlands is Kenya’s largest trading partner in the EU and a top three global trade partner. In 2023, Kenya exported $706 million worth of goods to the Netherlands—a 4.84% jump from 2018. Dutch companies are also at the heart of Kenya’s key industries from horticulture to logistics, tea, and petroleum. The visit cements the Netherlands commitment to trade and economic development in Kenya and the Eastern Africa region, aligning with Team Europe's approach to regional cooperation and innovation in trade facilitation. The presence of Kenya’s Cabinet Secretaries, Davis Chirchir (Roads and Transport), Lee Kinyanjui (Investments, Trade, and Industry), and Mutahi Kagwe (Agriculture and Livestock Development), underscored the depth of government, private sector, and development partners collaboration, which we know is a winning formulae for trade transformation. Dave Beer Allen Sophia Asiimwe Lillian Mwai Ann Shiro M. Abhishek Sharma Dr. Eng. Hannah Ngugi Anthe Vrijlandt Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken Eugene Torero Josepha Ndamira Duncan Onyango Netherlands Flying Swans Invest International Wambũi Mũrĩmi Sylviah Luseno - MCIPR, MPRSK, PRSK Warrior Awardee Njoki Mungai Antoinette Tesha Dr. Monica Hangi (Ph.D hc) Aime Nzoyihera Christian Nibasumba Sylviah Luseno - MCIPR, MPRSK, PRSK Warrior Awardee Government of Kenya Kenya Ports Authority Anna Nambooze

At the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dinner in Accra, H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, TradeMark Africa Board Chair and former Ethiopia PM, delivered a powerful message: The success of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat depends on YOU—the private sector. With intra-African trade still at just 15%, businesses must scale operations across borders, integrate into regional value chains, and push for harmonised standards to unlock the full potential of Africa’s $3.4 trillion economy. H.E. Hailemariam also called for investments in digital trade solutions and regional payment systems to overcome logistical inefficiencies and financial barriers. Through partnerships such as TradeMark Africa’s collaboration with the Ghana National Chamber of Commerce, we are working with the government and businesses to reduce trade barriers and maximise AfCFTA’s benefits to catalyse prosperity through trade. Dave Beer Ghana News Agency Lola Aworanti-Ekugo Prof. Dominic McVey MBE Allen Sophia Asiimwe Kwamina Sagu Ekremet Duncan Onyango Ann Shiro M. Anthe Vrijlandt Njoki Mungai Dr. Monica Hangi (Ph.D hc) Josepha Ndamira Eugene Torero CNBC Africa Christian Nibasumba Aime Nzoyihera ECOWAS Commission Office of the President, Republic of Ghana Anna Nambooze Benedict Musengele Lillian Mwai Erick Sirali Achaa Abdillahi Ahmed #AfCFTA #TradeFacilitation #PrivateSectorLeadership #KeepAfricaTrading

🤔 MISSED IT? Sample this – “A globally competitive Africa will come from what we produce, what we buy, and where we invest. But when we talk of building and buying African, it is not about exhorting consumers to be patriotic; it is about implementing effective trade and industrial policies, so that we build the quality, productivity capacity and regional value chains that will give consumers a compelling reason to buy African products… making the AfCFTA work is a once in a generation opportunity to reshape Africa’s future. Let us not waste it.” Yesterday, at the Africa Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, our Board Chair H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, and former Prime Minister for Ethiopia, delivered a rousing public lecture - AfCFTA as a Catalyst for Agenda 2063: Seizing Opportunities in a Changing World. He explored successes and delivered provocative arguments on why Africa struggles to trade with itself, and surfaced practical, measured strategies to shift both narrative and practice in Africa’s own leadership towards self-reliance with trade as impetus. Thank you to all who joined us and/or made contributions. If you did indeed miss it, you can listen to the recording of on AfCFTA's YouTube channel. With special thanks to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat for all considerations and accommodations that went into making this event a reality. #AfCFTA #FiveYearsOfAfCFTA # HailemariamDesalegn #IntraAfricaTrade #TradeWithinAfrica #TradeWithAfrica #KeepAfricaTrading African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, African Union, AUDA NEPAD, Wamkele Mene, Dave Beer, Prof. Dominic McVey MBE, Lola Aworanti-Ekugo, Duncan Onyango, Allen Sophia Asiimwe, Njoki Mungai, Mark Priestley, Anthe Vrijlandt, Abhishek Sharma Josepha Ndamira Benedict Musengele Andrew Edewa Erick Sirali Ann Shiro M., Emilly O. Carolyne Nyakundi Elijah Nyaga Munyi, Ph.D.

⏰ T-minus ONE hour - 3 PM GMT / 5 PM SAST / 6 PM EAT. Everything is in place to host you and hear from you, so hold the time!

TradeMark Africa (TMA) and Trade Catalyst Africa (TCA), last week had productive engagements with Uganda Revenue Authority's (URA) Commissioner General John Musinguzi Rujoki and his team, alongside TMA Board Director Sanjay Rughani. Spearheaded by Anna Nambooze, TMA’s Country Director for Uganda & South Sudan, and Duncan Onyango, CEO of TCA, the meeting focused on accelerating Uganda’s trade facilitation and regional integration through various cross-border trade enhancement initiatives. Some of the main areas of discussion included: ✅ Aligning TradeMark Africa's trade facilitation strategy with Uganda’s national priorities. ✅ Articulating Trade Catalyst Africa's 2025 continental outlook, which seeks to, among other things, position Uganda as a major player in regional trade. ✅ Operationalizing the Gulu Logistics Hub, which will strengthen Uganda’s transport network and opening new pathways for landlocked neighbours like South Sudan and parts of the DRC ✅ Advancing the Global Corridor Gateway and border posts cost recovery mechanisms, with the support of the Uganda Revenue Authority. ✅ Strengthening of UK-Uganda trade relations, with the British Chamber of Commerce Uganda chapter lauding the current UK-Uganda collaboration. The engagements underscore the partners' shared commitments to enhance trade efficiency and drive sustainable economic growth in Uganda and the East African region. Dave Beer Anthe Vrijlandt Allen Sophia Asiimwe Ann Shiro M. Dr. Monica Hangi (Ph.D hc) Eugene Torero Josepha Ndamira Catherine Nanzigu Elibariki Shammy Aime Nzoyihera Antoinette Tesha

Trade in Africa is accelerating and becoming more efficient, as highlighted in TradeMark Africa’s 2023/24 Annual Report, released last week. For over 14 years, TMA has worked across East, Southern, the Horn, and parts of West Africa to remove trade barriers and improve market access. The latest report highlights notable results, including: ✅ Faster permit processing: In Tanzania, the Mifugo system has digitised permit issuance for livestock and fish traders, reducing processing time from 14 days to one hour and increasing government revenue; ✅ Improved logistics efficiency: In Mombasa, truck clearance times at the port have halved, while the Mbaraki-Nyerere Road has reduced transit delays; ✅ Upgraded infrastructure at major ports: Port upgrades along Lakes Tanganyika and Kivu have eased congestion, accelerating the movement of goods; ✅ Reduced truck turnaround times: According to TMA’s Endline Survey (November 2023), truck turnaround times at the Port of Mombasa have dropped from 26 to 15 hours, significantly improving trade efficiency; ✅ Economic empowerment for women traders: In Rwanda, five women-led businesses under the VIBE programme secured $600,000 in export deals, while iSOKO, an e-commerce platform for small-scale traders, now has 78,000 registered users-90% of them women; ✅ Expansion into West Africa: A new MoU with ECOWAS Commission is extending trade facilitation efforts, while; ✅ Finland and the Netherlands have pledged $75 million to sustainable trade initiatives. TMA Council Chairman Leo Svahnbäck highlighted the organisation’s ability to build trust across governments, private sector stakeholders, and regional economic communities: “TMA’s impact lies in its ability to connect the right actors at national, regional, and continental levels to deliver effective trade policies.” Board Chair H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, former Ethiopian Prime Minister, reinforced the importance of regional integration: “An integrated African market will attract investment and drive economic expansion.” Looking ahead, TMA CEO Dave Beer reaffirmed the organisation’s focus on scaling digital trade, strengthening trade corridors, and embedding sustainability: “Unlocking Africa’s full trade potential requires collaboration, innovation, and decisive action at every trade and transport corridor.” Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/dZjpYK-K #KeepAfricaTrading #TMAAnnualReport20232024 #TMAImpact Allen Sophia Asiimwe, Njoki Mungai, Anthe Vrijlandt, Josepha Ndamira, Achaa Abdillahi Ahmed, Anna Nambooze, Aime Nzoyihera, Lillian Mwai, Christian Nibasumba, Rosine Uwamariya, Elibariki Shammy, Eugene Torero, Dr. Monica Hangi (Ph.D hc), Kwamina Sagu Ekremet, Ann Shiro M., Catherine Nanzigu, Sylviah Luseno - MCIPR, MPRSK, PRSK Warrior Awardee

AfCFTA Anniversary - Whole Cake or Still Serving Slices? 🕗 3 PM GMT / 5 PM SAST / 6 PM EAT 🕗 Five years ago, Africa set sail on a journey to create the world’s largest free trade area. Today, the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) brings together the 55 countries of the African Union (AU) and eight (8) Regional Economic Communities (RECs) The vision is to create a single market for the continent - Africa trading with itself on its own terms, with free flow of goods and services across the continent, and of an elevated trading position on the global market. AfCFTA's full potential depends on policy reforms and trade facilitation measures, areas the agreement's scorecard show still have a lot of unseized opportunities. H.E. Desalegn's lecture will explore how Africa is well positioned to leverage its strengths and address bottlenecks towards continental economic prosperity buoyed by AfCFTA's current and future successes. Join us for this Public Lecture, tomorrow 18 March, from 3PM GMT, live from the AfCFTA Secretariat in Accra, Ghana, with H.E. Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, TradeMark Africa's Board Chair and Former Prime Minister of Ethiopia. The event will be livestreamed via AfCFTA's Facebook and YouTube channels. #AfCFTA #FiveYearsOfAfCFTA #HailemariamDesalegn #IntraAfricaTrade #TradeWithinAfrica #TradeWithAfrica #KeepAfricaTrading African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat Wamkele Mene Grace Khoza Yafika Chitanda Dave Beer Allen Sophia Asiimwe Anthe Vrijlandt Prof. Dominic McVey MBE Lola Aworanti-Ekugo Duncan Onyango Njoki Mungai Mark Priestley Benedict Musengele Andrew Edewa Erick Sirali Ann Shiro M. Kwamina Sagu Ekremet Emilly O.

Strengthening Trade, Transforming Lives   Trade is a catalyst for economic growth. Every product on a shop shelf, every export crossing a border, and every job created through trade depends on efficient trade systems. Yesterday, #Ireland’s Minister of State for International Development and the Diaspora, Honourable Neale Richmond, led a high-level delegation on a tour of the Port of Dar es Salaam, accompanied by TradeMark Africa’s Country Director, Elibariki Shammy. The visit reaffirmed Ireland’s commitment to strengthening Tanzania’s trade infrastructure, expanding market opportunities, and fostering economic inclusion. Handling 95 per cent of Tanzania’s cargo, the Port of Dar es Salaam is critical to regional trade, serving landlocked neighbours such as Zambia, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Last year, it exceeded expectations by handling 21.46 million tonnes of cargo. However, delays, inefficiencies, and high costs affect traders, transporters, and consumers. A World Bank study (2023) estimates that improving port efficiency could save Tanzanian households an average of $147 per year- savings that make a real difference.   #Ireland’s partnership with TradeMark Africa is transforming trade corridors through strategic investments. The Smart Gate Project is reducing congestion with digital ID systems for instant cargo and driver verification, cutting delays and lowering costs. An Ireland-backed feasibility study has driven investments in berth deepening, a new container terminal, and improved road access, reducing truck turnaround times and increasing cargo capacity. In one year, container handling capacity has surged by 66 per cent, while ship waiting times have fallen by 57 percent - critical gains for businesses reliant on swift trade flows.   Minister Richmond underpinned the importance of efficient trade, stating: “Efficient ports lower costs, open new markets, and create jobs. When businesses can trade with ease, economies grow, and lives improve. Ireland is proud to support Tanzania in building a trade system that delivers real benefits for people.”   This partnership is about more than numbers- it is about people. It enables small business owners to reach markets faster, farmers to access new buyers, and truck drivers to spend less time at port gates. #Ireland’s commitment to trade-driven economic growth has been reflected in €2.4 million in funding over two years, aimed at lowering trade costs, enhancing business competitiveness, and removing barriers to trade. Read more here:https://shorturl.at/CLyxJ   #TradeThatWorks #IrelandTMAPartnership #KeepAfricaTrading #DarPortTransformation   Dave Beer, Allen Sophia Asiimwe, Anthe Vrijlandt, Dr. Monica Hangi (Ph.D hc), Ann Shiro M., Solomon Michael