Imports and Exports procedures

Statement of need

African Businesses mainly focus on the national markets despite the huge market potential presented by the Regional Economic Communities that their countries are party to. Therefore, the rationale for this module is to facilitate the businesses, policymakers and implementers to adopt export strategies to take advantage of the enhanced export potential presented by the AfCFTA and other trade agreements. It is therefore critical to be equipped with the requisite skills to undertake market analysis and have a good grasp of the international/African business environment in terms of regulatory frameworks, logistics, market information and payment methods to create local support mechanisms for exploiting the export potential. Ordinarily, the adoption of an export strategy is not an end in itself. Therefore, further to the adoption of a robust export strategy, there is also a need to be equipped with skills that are important for managing export transactions as well as the resources that they generate. Standards and compliance with standards are the main constraints to successful product entry into an export market and sustainability in the market. This is especially critical for SMEs and the agricultural sector. The course also looks at how producers can mainstream product standards in their production process.

The export of products is dependent on the effective utilisation of export documentation as well as the flexibility mechanisms provided by trade facilitation regulations. Consequently, to facilitate seamless export transactions, this module will also give requisite knowledge and skills relevant to the facilitation of their exports. However, most SMEs embark on export and trade ventures that do not take into account the possible opportunities presented by such export priority policies. The course will be designed to expose the participants to the opportunities ushered by E-commerce and how to tap these opportunities. 

Expected training outcomes:

• Gain an understanding of the importance of Intra-African Trade, Regional, Continental and Global Value Chains
• Export and Resource Management in terms of building Productive Capabilities and making Vital Resource Decisions that include export financing, cash flow management, and managing export transactions
• Appreciate the importance of products standards and the legal aspects thereof through the analysis of sectoral WTO Agreements on SPS and TBT and the effects of product standards on agricultural exports
• Comparative analysis of standards in bilateral/regional agreements with an emphasis on standards as a mechanism for increasing product competitiveness and standards on labelling and packaging of exports

Content

• Strategies for building an Export Business Plan and Market Research, information and marketing strategies and making the assessment of readiness to export
• Export and Resource Management
• Legal aspects of Intellectual property and protections of export brands and contractual aspects of export transactions
• How to create a conducive environment for export facilitation through an understanding of incoterms utility in export transactions
• An in-depth look into Intra-African Trade and The African Continental Free Trade Agreement and regulation of trade in goods under the AfCFTA regulation of Trade in Services under the AfCFTA
• Understanding rules of origin requirements and procedures
• Analysis of standards in bilateral/regional agreements
• E-commerce readiness assessment and strategy formulation

Target group

Officials from Trade and Trade Related Ministries and parastatals, officials from Regional Economic Communities, Negotiators, and Regional Integration Practitioners. Private sector player in transport and logistics

Duration
2 Weeks

Venues
a) Venue 1: Arusha, Tanzania
Date: 13 – 24 May 2024

b) Venue 2: Mombasa, Kenya
Date: 4 – 15 Nov 2024

Course Fees
$1,600