Trade that Works
Faster, Frictionless, Fairer, and Further Trade
Results Snapshot
0
%
Reduction in time for completing selected trade processes through TMA-supported digital trade systems across East Africa
0
%
Reduction in selected trade transaction costs through digital systems, including customs platforms
0
+
TMA-supported harmonised standards out of EAC’s 2,000
0
%
Increase in incomes reported by cross-border women traders participating in TMA-supported programmes in East Africa
Progress So Far
Faster Trade
Reducing time and cost of trade
Trade becomes faster when systems work at scale. Investments in infrastructure, digital platforms, standards systems and policy reforms reduce delays, lower costs and improve the predictability of trade across borders and corridors.
Time to apply for a permit, process a certificate, or clear a shipment fell from 97 hours to 31 after the introduction of TMA-supported digital systems: that’s a two-thirds reduction for the businesses surveyed, or roughly two-and-a-half working weeks of time given back to each business per task.
Associated business cost per application dropped from $27 to $14 (49%)
80% reduction in approval times for pharmaceutical import permits, dropping from 5 days in 2019 to under 24 hours in 2023, with TMA streamlining processes across government agencies through Burundi Electronic Single Window.
Reduction of certification cost by over 40%, significantly speeding up market access for businesses.
Reduction of certification time from 7 months in 2017 to 4 months on average by 44% of surveyed firms – can access markets faster, at lower cost, with fewer rejections.
Border crossing times fell by 83% at Nimule-Elegu and 58% at Goli-Mahagi, with customs processing at Goli down 63%, cutting delays and improving trade predictability.
Further Trade
Strengthening connectivity across markets
Trade goes further when producers, traders and firms are connected to larger markets, and when the systems around them make cross-border trade commercially viable. TMA-supported interventions strengthened this connectivity through corridor infrastructure, digital platforms, standards systems and regional policy reforms. Together, these investments helped firms and traders move beyond local markets, reach buyers across borders, and participate more confidently in regional and global trade.
Enhanced regional connectivity with Hargeisa Bypass, improving Ethiopia’s access to Berbera Port, increasing traffic along this corridor by over 30% (from approx. 30,000 in 2021 to 40,000 in 2023.
Hargeisa Bypass facilitated a 44% growth in Somaliland’s livestock exports.
About 30% increase in monthly trade volumes by cross-border traders at border posts due to increased market access, and better prices for the traders in Goli (86%) and Elegu (78%).
29% more transactions for businesses migrating to digital standards platforms.
The Africa Trade Development Forum aims to streamline trade facilitation and strengthen policy frameworks across Africa.
Frictionless Trade
Removing barriers to market access
Trade becomes frictionless when traders and firms face fewer duplicated checks, fewer informal costs, clearer procedures and greater confidence that their goods will be accepted across markets. TMA’s interventions helped reduce friction by strengthening standards and SPS systems, improving border operations, and supporting more transparent trade processes
The EAC now operates with more than 2,000 harmonised standards aligned to international practice. TMA has supported 600 of those, with 100 delivered in 2024-25, covering, for example, cereals, horticulture, fisheries, dairy, petroleum, cosmetics and packaging; sectors that the EAC estimates generate $8 -12 billion in annual regional trade
Compliance work contributed to an average annual sales increase of $120,000 per company; a 14% increase from the 300 exporting companies surveyed.
6.6 million real-time customs and port data exchanges on EAC Single Customs Territory Centralised Platform, with over 800,000 transactions post launch
Fairer Trade
Expanding participation in trade by creating opportunities for all
Trade becomes fairer when there are increased cross-border trade opportunities for underrepresented groups. This is achieved by removing structural barriers and enabling traders to participate in safer, formal and profitable trade.
TMA’s work at the One Stop Border Posts it developed has reduced harassment, simplified procedures via the Simplified Trade Regime, and grown women’s cooperatives.
86% of women traders at Goli and 78% at Elegu fetched better prices for goods across the border.
Over 95,000 traders are using TMA’s free mobile app (Isoko) in five countries (Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Burundi, Rwanda), so they can access trade and market information that helps them to export.
Over 7,800 horticulture farmers in Kenya were linked to markets by TMA, contributing to $51 million in trade value. (35% female, 40% youth).
Faster Trade
Reducing time and cost of trade
Trade becomes faster when systems work at scale. Investments in infrastructure, digital platforms, standards systems and policy reforms reduce delays, lower costs and improve the predictability of trade across borders and corridors.
Time to apply for a permit, process a certificate, or clear a shipment fell from 97 hours to 31 after the introduction of TMA-supported digital systems: that’s a two-thirds reduction for the businesses surveyed, or roughly two-and-a-half working weeks of time given back to each business per task.
Associated business cost per application dropped from $27 to $14 (49%)
80% reduction in approval times for pharmaceutical import permits, dropping from 5 days in 2019 to under 24 hours in 2023, with TMA streamlining processes across government agencies through Burundi Electronic Single Window.
Reduction of certification cost by over 40%, significantly speeding up market access for businesses.
Reduction of certification time from 7 months in 2017 to 4 months on average by 44% of surveyed firms – can access markets faster, at lower cost, with fewer rejections.
Border crossing times fell by 83% at Nimule-Elegu and 58% at Goli-Mahagi, with customs processing at Goli down 63%, cutting delays and improving trade predictability.
Further Trade
Strengthening connectivity across markets
Trade goes further when producers, traders and firms are connected to larger markets, and when the systems around them make cross-border trade commercially viable. TMA-supported interventions strengthened this connectivity through corridor infrastructure, digital platforms, standards systems and regional policy reforms. Together, these investments helped firms and traders move beyond local markets, reach buyers across borders, and participate more confidently in regional and global trade.
Enhanced regional connectivity with Hargeisa Bypass, improving Ethiopia’s access to Berbera Port, increasing traffic along this corridor by over 30% (from approx. 30,000 in 2021 to 40,000 in 2023.
Hargeisa Bypass facilitated a 44% growth in Somaliland’s livestock exports.
About 30% increase in monthly trade volumes by cross-border traders at border posts due to increased market access, and better prices for the traders in Goli (86%) and Elegu (78%).
29% more transactions for businesses migrating to digital standards platforms.
The Africa Trade Development Forum aims to streamline trade facilitation and strengthen policy frameworks across Africa.
Frictionless Trade
Removing barriers to market access
Trade becomes frictionless when traders and firms face fewer duplicated checks, fewer informal costs, clearer procedures and greater confidence that their goods will be accepted across markets. TMA’s interventions helped reduce friction by strengthening standards and SPS systems, improving border operations, and supporting more transparent trade processes
The EAC now operates with more than 2,000 harmonised standards aligned to international practice. TMA has supported 600 of those, with 100 delivered in 2024-25, covering, for example, cereals, horticulture, fisheries, dairy, petroleum, cosmetics and packaging; sectors that the EAC estimates generate $8 -12 billion in annual regional trade
Compliance work contributed to an average annual sales increase of $120,000 per company; a 14% increase from the 300 exporting companies surveyed.
6.6 million real-time customs and port data exchanges on EAC Single Customs Territory Centralised Platform, with over 800,000 transactions post launch
Fairer Trade
Expanding participation in trade by creating opportunities for all
Trade becomes fairer when there are increased cross-border trade opportunities for underrepresented groups. This is achieved by removing structural barriers and enabling traders to participate in safer, formal and profitable trade.
TMA’s work at the One Stop Border Posts it developed has reduced harassment, simplified procedures via the Simplified Trade Regime, and grown women’s cooperatives.
86% of women traders at Goli and 78% at Elegu fetched better prices for goods across the border.
Over 95,000 traders are using TMA’s free mobile app (Isoko) in five countries (Kenya, Uganda, DRC, Burundi, Rwanda), so they can access trade and market information that helps them to export.
Over 7,800 horticulture farmers in Kenya were linked to markets by TMA, contributing to $51 million in trade value. (35% female, 40% youth).
Together, these define how trade becomes more efficient, inclusive, and scalable
Stories of Change
Rusizi II One Stop Border Post – Rwanda
Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX) Documentary
Baraza la Biashara: Serie 1- Digital Trust in Trade-Infrastructure, Data and the Politics of Access
ICYMI – Mombasa West urban road upgrades driving change, powering trade and empowering communities –
Launch TradeMark Africa in Ghana
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tFaeAldyvs
Rusizi II One Stop Border Post – Rwanda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sJddygzYBSA
Tanzania Mercantile Exchange (TMX) Documentary
https://youtu.be/5s50fYzWTpM?si=0cqAhbXcDCFvIlPj
Baraza la Biashara: Serie 1- Digital Trust in Trade-Infrastructure, Data and the Politics of Access
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-FJiC-UA4c
ICYMI – Mombasa West urban road upgrades driving change, powering trade and empowering communities –
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSkGyARpg9Q
Launch TradeMark Africa in Ghana
Toolkit
TradeMark Africa works with governments, regional institutions, development partners and the private sector to reduce barriers to trade and improve business competitiveness across Africa. Results presented on this site reflect TMA-supported contributions achieved in partnership with governments, regional institutions and the private sector.