FtF Update August 2014 - East Africa Trade Hub

Feed the Future Update
August 2014 (Final Submission)
The East Africa Trade Hub (EATH) carries out a number of activities every month in support of
bilateral and regional FtF efforts. Activities for August 2014 included:
USAID/EA FtF IR 1.2 Reduced barriers to cross- border trade and transit
EATH Transitions work with Joint Border Committees (JBCs) to Trade Mark East Africa
(TMEA)
On August 12-13, the EATH transit team travelled to Kisumu, Kenya for the transition of their
technical support for Kenya’s four JBC posts (Malaba, Busia, Namanga, Isibania) to TradeMark
East Africa (TMEA).
EATH has been supporting the EAC countries in the establishment and capacity building of the
JBCs at various borders within the region. EATH has provided technical support and undertaken
strategic initiatives aimed at improving border efficiency and competitiveness of supply chain
logistics. With this transition event, EATH’s JBC work is now being formally transferred to
TMEA.
During the transition event attended by EATH, TMEA, and JBC members and stakeholders,
EATH shared the results of the completed border assessments of the Kenya borders. The
assessment showed that the Malaba border was the best performing border followed by Busia,
Namanga and Isibania respectively.
The participants at the transition meeting expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the
support and initiatives that have been conducted by the EATH project in facilitating trade within
the EAC region. The team equally commended the EATH staff members who have worked
tirelessly in availing the technical and logistical support and guidance in various trade facilitation
initiatives within EAC in general and specifically to Kenya. The requested asked the TMEA
team to consider work in close collaboration with the current EATH JBC team so as to learn
lessons and provide a smooth transition from where things are at the moment.
USAID’s Power Africa/Trade Africa (PATA) representative Dr. Kenneth Kambona equally
commended the EATH Transit Team for their dedication, commitment, and the determination
that made it possible for the results in border performance to be realized within the project
period. Dr. Kambona urged the JBC members to continue with the same team spirit and assured
them of USAID PATA continued support in making the Kenyan borders efficient and
competitive. In his acceptance speech, the TMEA team leader, Mr. Theo Lyimo - Director of
OSBP, commended the EATH and JBC team members for their cooperation and coordination
that has enabled the Kenyan borders to be exemplary models in trade facilitation within the EAC
region.
In his presentation, Mr. Lyimo provided a brief background and highlights of TMEA’s work and
its role in promoting trade facilitation within the EAC region. He further assured the participants
that TMEA will continue and even improve on the good work that EATH has been doing with
respect to the Coordinated Border Management (CBM) activities in Kenya and the EAC in
general. He reiterated that TMEA will work closely with JBC members in enhancing the role of
Kenya border agencies in promoting trade facilitation and in strengthening the CBM/IBM
structures in the context of WTO protocols and principles of trade facilitation. Given that TMEA
has limited presence in the EAC borders, Mr. Lyimo assured the participants that he shall
explore further policy issues/gaps with TMEA and USAID PATA so as to ensure that TMEA
develops and implements a comprehensive CBM program in all the EAC borders.
Tanzanian JBC Team Tours Malaba and Busia Border posts
EATH transit team travelled to the Malaba and Busia Borders in Kenya to accompany high level
Government members from Tanzania JBCs who were on a study tour to share experiences and
lessons learned on the best practices of the Coordinated Border Management (CBM) system.
This experience sharing came about after the EATH team’s CBM assessment results showed that
Malaba and Busia Borders, Kenya, were the best ranked borders within the East African
Community region according to CBM implementation standards. Because of this, the Tanzania
JBC team requested to learn from the Kenyan JBC team about their experiences as well as their
approaches to the participatory management structure of the JBCs.
The study tour comprised of a high level delegation, under the leadership of Kagyabukama E.
Kiliba Deputy Permanent Secretary, Prime Minister’s Office on Regional Administration and
Local Government and included Ambrose Lugenge, Assistant Director- Ministry of Industry and
Trade and Edwin Rutageruka, Director of Domestic Markets – Tanzania Trade Development
Authority.
The Tanzania team members expressed their gratitude and appreciation for the support and
initiatives being done by EATH in facilitating trade within the EAC region. The team equally
commended EATH’s transit team who have worked tirelessly in availing the technical and
logistical support and guidance in various trade facilitation initiatives within EAC in general and
specifically to Tanzania. The team further commended the cooperation and coordination existing
between Malaba (Kenya) and Malaba (Uganda) in conducting joint inspections and operations.
The Tanzania team promised to put into practice some of the key principles of CBM that have
worked well for Malaba and Busia Borders Kenya in improving border cooperation and
efficiency.
The Tanzania team reiterated the need for further cooperation and coordination among the JBCs
within the EAC for learning and experience-sharing exchanges and sent a word of invitation for
the Kenya JBC team to also visit Tanzania for similar experience sharing. Since Tanzania has
developed a viable framework for online reporting of NTBs along the borders and the country in
general, they believe this can be useful for the Kenya team to learn about.
USAID/EA FtF IR 1.3 Structured trade for selected commodity value chains
EAGC Organizes Successful Agribusiness Expos in Kenya and Uganda
The EAGC Agribusiness Expo is the region’s biggest agricultural business trade show which
covers three countries-Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya. The Expo is a forum that brings together all
stakeholders from the closely linked sectors – agribusiness, telecommunication, banking,
insurance, and agriculture machinery makers among others to engage in dialogue with their
clients resulting in demand-driven products and services to satisfy the requirements of their
clients.
This year’s Uganda expo took place on August 1-2 in Eastern Uganda at Lukhoge Demonstration
Centre, Mbale district. The Expo was organized by EAGC in partnership with Mbale Local
Government with support from EATH and sponsorship by various agribusiness companies. The
Kenya expo was held on August 14-15 at the Kabarak University grounds with similar support
from local Government as well as the Trade Hub and sponsors. The Tanzania expo will be held
early next year in Morogoro, Central Tanzania.
The objectives of both expos were the following:
 Bring together stakeholders in the agricultural industry in the country on one platform
where all participants would engage each other in dialogue on issues related to
agribusiness.
 Create a forum for increased interaction, dialogue and rapport between the farming
community and the manufacturers of agricultural inputs and implements and service
providers in the country.
 Enhance competitive trade and address food security in the region.
The companies invited to the expo were from the agricultural sector and included seed, fertilizer,
and agro-equipment manufacturing companies, banks and other service providers. Government
representatives, the other private sector stakeholders, donors and other strategic partners in the
agricultural sector also attended the expo.
The expo was designed to increase interaction, dialogue and rapport between the farming
community and the agribusiness actors including manufacturers and suppliers of inputs and
implements and service providers-financial institutions, grain handlers, etc. and highlight key
post-harvest challenges and how they can be mitigated with simple technologies. The key
benefits that participants got from this year’s event were:
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Farmers increased the degree of awareness on post-harvest losses and learned new
technologies on post-harvest practices.
Exhibitors got to present new products and technologies in agribusiness.
Agro-dealers and service providers evaluated product design on acceptability
range.
Expanded network of potential clients by agro-dealers
Agro-dealers and service providers met farmers and made new contacts while also
strengthening existing ones.
Agro-dealers and service providers observed competitors and the market.
An opportunity to engage in dialogue with clients, resulting in demand-driven
products and services that satisfy the requirements of the clients.

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