#KNCCI agriculture

[farmerstrend]

What to Expect from ICCF 2024: A Sneak Peek into Kenya’s Largest Contract Farming Event

“Discover how the International Conference on Contract Farming (ICCF 2024) is set to transform Kenya’s agriculture sector by promoting sustainable practices, enhancing market access, and fostering transparent partnerships.” “Learn about the ICCF 2024 in Nairobi, where farmers, policymakers, and agribusiness leaders will explore solutions to contract farming challenges, technology integration, and…

[newscheckz]

Kisumu port, rail gives hope to industries and regional trade

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Kisumu port, rail gives hope to industries and regional trade

The revival of the old Metre Gauge Rail to Kisumu and the link to Mombasa through the SGR is expected to boost trade in the region and with neighbouring countries.

Local traders and industries are hoping to benefit from the projects with the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and TradeMark East Africa terming the infrastructure as a “game-changer”.

It includes the upgraded Kisumu Port expected to boost exports and imports through the lake transport network mainly between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

According to KAM, revival of the old rail is significant for the local manufacturing sector as it opens up Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza regions, and increases connectivity with other parts of the country, particularly Nairobi and Mombasa.

“The railway line shall increase the efficiency of movement of raw materials to industries in Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza. Additionally, it shall speed up the transportation of finished goods from the factory to the markets,” chief executive Phyllis Wakiaga told the Star.

The port will enhance market access in countries surrounding Lake Victoria.

“We hope to see increased volumes of goods transported through Lake Victoria, into the East African Community markets,” said Wakiaga.

The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Kisumu chapter, has expressed optimism the development will open the region for trade, mainly agricultural and industrial produces.

“It is going to open trade for people in Western Kenya and connect markets both locally and in the region,” chairman Israel Agina said yesterday, noting Kenya has been losing business to Tanzania which has recently enticed Uganda with its Lake transport, even as Uganda remains a key trading partner for Kenya.

Uganda is the key destination for transit cargo coming through the Port of Mombasa, accounting for 83.2 per cent of all goods to the hinterland, Kenya Ports Authority data shows.

South Sudan takes up 9.9 per cent while DR Congo, Tanzania and Rwanda account for 7.2 per cent, 3.2 per cent and 2.4 per cent respectively.

Kisumu Port links Kenya to small ports of Musoma, and Bukoba in Tanzania and Entebbe and Port Bell in Uganda.

TradeMark East Africa has vouched for Kisumu Port as a key facility that will boost trade within the East Africa Community(EAC).

“Kisumu port is served by the Northern Corridor and would attract transit cargo traffic to Uganda and Northern Tanzania,” director-Great Lakes, Sjoerd Visser, told the Star.

The rail and port projects are expected to support the growth of agricultural exports such as tea and coffee, domestic movement of fresh milk, and other produce.

Kenya Railways which is running Kisumu Port with main operations on its MV Uhuru has also been moving oil products using the port.

The facility will also serve factories in Rift Valley and western Kenya and the fish industry in Kisumu, with hopes of revival and growth of installations in the region where the likes of Kisumu Cotton Mills (Kicomi) were key in the 1990s.

Kenya Breweries’ Kisumu plant, revived Rivatex East Africa and new KCC are among those expected to move volumes on rail, according to Kenya Railways.

It is putting final touches to link the old rail to the SGR, at Naivasha, reviving the country’s expansive railway operations that had remained dormant for more than two decades, with economies of small towns along the railway line suffering from reduced business activities.

Kenya Railways managing director Philip Mainga notes that the connection will ensure a seamless rail system for both passengers and cargo between Mombasa , Kisumu and Malaba, which will further support transit cargo movement into the hinterland.

He is also keen to revive railway lines in Butere, Eldoret, Kitale and the Voi-Taveta line to increase cargo movement between Kenya and Tanzania through the Taveta-Holili border, a move that is likely to bring back to life the small towns.

Renewed ties with Tanzania, a recent trade agreement with Burundi, and a much stable trade between Kenya and Uganda are elements local industries are counting on, as they embrace the improved infrastructure to move volumes to these markets.

They are hoping protectionism trends seen in the region in recent times, such as bans on maize, high tariffs imposed on goods and controls on the milk industry will be addressed to support intra EAC trade.

According to the East African Business Council (EABC), tariff and non-tariff barriers are still hampering intra-EAC trade, which is still at a low of 13 per cent compared to common markets such as the EU which is at 67 per cent.

EAC Secretary General Peter Mathuki has since committed to growing the trade by among others, finalisation of the comprehensive review of the EAC Common External Tariff (CET) and its uniform application in the bloc.

The EAC-CET comprises a triple band structure for raw materials and capital goods (0 per cent), intermediate goods (10 per cent) and final goods (25 per cent), as well as a Sensitive Items list with exceptions to the three-band rule for specified commodities attracting high rates of duty (notably, all above 30 per cent).

[newscheckz]

Agribusiness Confederation of East Africa launches platform targeting private sector

New Post has been published on https://newscheckz.com/agribusiness-confederation-of-east-africa-launches-platform-targeting-private-sector/

Agribusiness Confederation of East Africa launches platform targeting private sector

Agriculture plays an integral role in East Africa’s economy as it accounts for over 30% of the region’s gross domestic product (GDP).

The sector also employs over 80% of the region’s labour force and accounts for about 65% of all foreign exchange earnings.

The East African Agricultural sector also contributes more than 50% of raw materials to the regional manufacturing sector.

It is in this regard that the Agribusiness Confederation of East Africa (ACEA) recently launched the ACEA Buyer-Seller platform.

The platform was launched through Facebook to connect private sector players in agribusiness within the East African community region.

The virtual launch event was hosted by Dr. Kevit Desai, Principal Secretary in the State Department of East Africa Community in the Ministry of East Africa Community and Regional Development; Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki, Secretary-General of the East African Community and Dr. Bimal Kantaria, Agriculture Sector Network (ASNET) Chair.

The ACEA Buyer-Seller platform launch was held in partnership with KEPSA, The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), East African Business Council (EABC), Eastern Africa Grain Council (EAGC), Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), Agriculture Sector Network, World Vegetable Center, Agricultural Council of Tanzania (ACT), Horticulture Exporters Association of Rwanda (HEAR), Fresh Produce Exporters Association of Kenya, Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) partnership platform.

During the launch, Dr. Kantaria confirmed that the platform would finally address the increase of private sector agricultural business without government intervention.

He affirmed the fact that government officials and agriculture sector leaders who were also included in the platform ensured that communication would be improved in the agricultural sector in East Africa.

The Agribusiness Confederation of East Africa (ACEA) is the regional apex body for private sector associations and federations in the agriculture sector.

The ACEA aims to enhance inter-regional trade by identifying and promoting agriculture business opportunities within and outside the EAC region.

The ACEA Buyer-Seller platform seeks to connect players in the agriculture value chains.

Through the platform, they will have access to a regional market and get to know other players in agribusiness around the East African community.

The ACEA looks to develop an online platform in the future where the buyers and sellers can transact and finalize their business deals within the platform which will be integrated with the ACEA website.

The launch was only the first strategy for the ACEA, which additionally seeks to enhance sector trade through the removal of non-trade barriers, expensive medical tests, and expensive regional transport that consequently market penetration and trade.