70 tonnes of 🥑 on one flight reverberating across 1,000+ farmers. Rwanda just sent three containerloads of avocados to the UAE in a single airlift, and behind every crate are the smallholder farmers who grew it, 70% of them young women. The order also generated paid work at every step from harvesting, sorting, transport to packing. In the four-day packhouse operation alone, over 60 casual workers were engaged each day, over 80% of them young women. This milestone was made possible through the Value-added Initiative to Boost Employment (VIBE) programme, implemented by TradeMark Africa in partnership with Mastercard Foundation, which seeks to create dignified work for young people, especially young women, across Rwanda. @RwandAgriExport; @Vanguard_Econ; @MastercardFdn; @RwandaAgri; @RDBrwanda; @RwandaTrade; @MINAGRI; @RDBrwanda; @DorecaMusenga; @Rosine_Uwamar00; @DavidButera; @AnnMbiruru @shiro; @Kumwegreenfarms @AllenAsiimwe1; @Butdavie; @toreroeugene @anatariaU

For decades, Brarudi, Burundi’s leading brewery and a subsidiary of Heineken, relied on imported agricultural inputs transported thousands of kilometres to support its production. Through a partnership between @AuxfinB, facilitated by TradeMark Africa with funding from the Netherlands, Brarudi and farmer cooperatives, local smallholder farmers are now supplying white sorghum, maize and barley directly into the brewery’s supply chain. In 2025 alone, Brarudi purchased more than 101,000 kg of white sorghum worth over 213 million BIF and more than 235 million BIF worth of barley from local producers. The shift is strengthening local supply chains, creating jobs, keeping more value within Burundi’s economy, and giving farmers access to stable markets, while helping Brarudi build a more resilient source of raw materials. Read the full story: trademarkafrica.com/the-sorg… #KeepAfricaTrading @DutchMFA @AllenAsiimwe1 @chrisnibas @AntheVrijlandt @anatariaU @markApriest @MinBZ

Mozambique and Zimbabwe have operationalised the Forbes–Machipanda Joint Border Committee, creating a platform for border agencies to coordinate operations, reduce delays and strengthen trade along the Beira Corridor. The new Forbes-Machipanda JBC brings customs, immigration, police, health, agriculture, standards and roads authorities from both countries around one table to harmonise procedures, synchronise operating hours and cut dwell times. Beira Port is fast becoming one of the main trade gateways in the SADC region, serving Zimbabwe, Zambia, Malawi and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Zimbabwe alone accounts for about 55% of the inward and outward cargo handled at the Port, with the Forbes-Machipanda border post serving as the principal gateway linking the two countries. Read more: tinyurl.com/3sv8433s #KeepAfricaTrading @MoFA_ZW, @MinistryofTID, @SADC_News, @WCO_OMD, @AnnMbiruru

Zambia’s President, H.E. @HHichilema, has today commissioned the upgraded Nakonde One Stop Border Post, a critical trade gateway linking Zambia to Tanzania, the DRC, Zimbabwe and wider regional markets in Eastern and Southern Africa. The president was joined by senior government officials from Zambia and Tanzania and development partners, including British High Commissioner in Zambia, H.E. @RTerzeon, TradeMark Africa (TMA) CEO @daveghbeer, other dignitaries and the local community. President Hichilema noted that the upgrade of the Nakonde OSBP formed part of Zambia’s broader effort to make trade and transport work better, adding that the continued improvement of the facility enables Zambia to leverage its strategic location to generate greater value to support children’s education, create jobs, improve healthcare, enhance business opportunities and generate government revenue. Handling approximately 800 trucks daily, Nakonde plays a central role in facilitating trade across one of the region’s busiest corridors, connecting Zambia to the Port of Dar es Salaam and beyond. Phase 1 upgrade, funded by the UK Government (@FCDOGovUK) in Zambia through TMA, introduces improved infrastructure and modern systems to ease congestion, enhance cargo handling, improve traffic flow at the border, and strengthen regional connectivity. #KeepAfricaTrading @ZambiaRevenue @UKinZambia @BBCNews @BBCAfrica @markApriest @zadama24 @AnnMbiruru @jumuiya @COMESA_HQ @dailynewstz @RevenueTra @AllenAsiimwe1 @AfCFTA @SuluhuSamia @ElibarikiShammy @AntheVrijlandt

The President of Zambia, H.E. @HHichilema will, on 19 March 2026, officially inaugurate the upgraded Nakonde One Stop Border Post, a key crossing that connects trade routes across Tanzania, the DRC, Zimbabwe and beyond. Every day, around 800 trucks pass through Nakonde. With the new upgrades, done as part of the first phase of improvement works, cargo clearance times are set to drop by more than half, making it faster, easier and more predictable to move goods across the region. This milestone reflects strong partnership between the Government of Zambia, the UK and TradeMark Africa and other partners, all working together to improve trade and unlock economic opportunities. Stay tuned as we bring you highlights from the inauguration. @daveghbeer @AllenAsiimwe1 @RTerzeon @markApriest @FCDOGovUK @UKinZambia @thedunne @diamondtvzambia @LGAZambia #KeepAfricaTrading

Kenya’s vegetable exports are in decline. The issue is not a lack of production, but the absence of systems that can credibly demonstrate compliance with evolving European Union standards. In a recent opinion piece, TradeMark Africa’s @andrewedewa and Lillian Mwai argue that investment in food safety and traceability is essential if Kenya is to sustain access to international markets. They propose Export Supply Hubs, supported through the @EUinKenya Union-funded #BEEEP programme, as a practical and scalable solution. These hubs are designed to embed compliance infrastructure within production zones, giving smallholder farmers a fair opportunity to compete globally. The recently signed Memorandum of Understanding with the County Government of Makueni signals the beginning of this work. It reflects a shared commitment to strengthening Kenya’s export systems and aligning more closely with both EU regulations and the objectives of the @AfCFTA Read more: trademarkafrica.com/why-comp… #KeepAfricaTrading @daveghbeer @AllenAsiimwe1 @AnnMbiruru @AntheVrijlandt @JosephaNdamira @markApriest @Ericksirali @jobwanjohi @SimonKonzolo

Career Opportunities at TradeMark Africa! We're hiring for a Regional Director for West Africa and AfCFTA and a Procurement Officer in our Ghana Office. Ready to impact in trade across West Africa? Apply by Dec. 10, 2024: trademarkafrica.com/careers/ #Jobs #TradeOpportunities

. #Trade4FoodSecurityat @WTO #Aid4Trade. 🗓️Join us from 9:00am today in Geneva 4 a showcase of how OACPS-EU trade progs & TMA, @FAO facilitation progs are enabling market access & food quality in the Pacific & #EastAfrica. Don't miss out on solutions that make a real difference

Join us at @wto's Aid for Trade Global Review 2024 to discuss how TMA and the @EUinKenya are enhancing trade facilitation! #Aid4Trade

Through @USAID-ERRA, TMA’s Ethiopian Country Program organized a week-long cross-learning experience for Ethiopia’s plant health and safety experts in Kenya. Goal: Strengthen trade relations, improve food safety & promote economic dev. Read more linkedin.com/posts/trademark…

Over the past two days, @Jumuiya, with funding support from @USDA TRASE & @USAID-ERRA, validated a 10-year strategy that will fast-track the implementation of the SPS Protocol, a conduit for promoting intra- & inter-regional #food & #ag trade. Read more. bit.ly/3ynAU8k

TMA, with funding from @USAID-ERRA, in collab. w/ @KAM_Kenya has brought together #KE & #Ethiopia's business communities, policymakers, and Competent Authorities in Addis Ababa to unlock trade opps. & strengthen ties between the two countries! Read more: bit.ly/3U5DNBK