Shea 2013: Global Perspectives coming to Abuja, Nigeria in March 2013

Shea 2013: Global Perspectives, the sixth annual conference of the Global Shea Alliance, will take place in Abuja, Nigeria, March 4-6, 2013, the Global Shea Alliance announced. “Shea connects people around the world, linking buyers and producers across the globe,” said Joe Funt, managing director of the Global Shea Alliance. “A global perspective with an understanding of all market forces is required.” The three-day event will focus on global opportunities and challenges, innovation and issues affecting the regional trade of shea. Abuja, the capital of Nigeria and home to ECOWAS, is close to the country’s primary shea production area in Niger State. www.globalshea.com

Akuete honored for her work to improve shea exports

Eugenia Akuete (center in photo), president of the Global Shea Alliance and CEO of Nasaakle, a shea butter exporting company in Ghana, has been honored with a “Special Honorary Award” by the Ghana Export Promotion Authority for her “hard work” in exporting, the Authority said in an announcement. “I feel great,” Akuete said “It’s an honor and I’ve worked very hard. It was a surprise – I wasn’t expecting this at all.” Akuete established Nasaakle in 2003 and it now contributes to the livelihoods of over 1,500 women in rural communities in northern Ghana. www.globalshea.com

Burkina Faso will host 'Borderless 2013: Connecting Markets'

Burkina Faso will host “Borderless 2013: Connecting Markets,” the annual conference of the Borderless Alliance, a private sector coalition to increase trade across the region supported by the USAID Trade Hub. The event will take place at the Hotel Independence February 14-15, 2013. “Regional trade is fundamental to the economic growth of West Africa,” said Justin Bayili, managing director of the Borderless Alliance. “We must work to connect these markets more effectively.” www.borderlesswa.com 

In Transit provides latest news on Borderless and Borderless Alliance

The Borderless Alliance has published In Transit, its quarterly newsletter, which includes an introduction to its new managing director, Justin Bayili; a report on its first annual conference, which took place in Abidjan in May; and summaries of the latest road governance report and a comprehensive review of all of the costs traders incur on the Lome to Ouagadougou corridor. www.borderlesswa.com 

Stakeholders in Benin discuss road transport issues at Borderless road show

Almost 200 transport stakeholders – about 150 truck drivers and 30 public sector officials and private company representatives – discussed road transport issues at a Borderless roadshow in Godomey, Benin, about 10 km from Cotonou. The Chief Director of the Ministry of Transport chaired the event, which included representatives of the Benin Shippers’ Council, the Police, transporters and drivers unions, the Port of Cotonou, the Abidjan-Lagos Corridor Organization (ALCO), and the USAID Agribusiness Trade Promotion project (ATP). Stakeholders also discussed results of the 19th road governance report; the report’s executive summary is online at www.watradehub.com/transport.

New truck drivers guides published in Burkina Faso and Togo

Two new guides are now available for truck drivers hauling goods in Burkina Faso and Togo. The new guides provide practical information on the rules of the road, including regulations on axleweight loads, fines for traffic law offenses and how drivers can get help if they break down or complain if they are harassed. More than 200 stakeholders participated in events to announce the release of the guides in both countries. The guides are currently available in French at www.borderlesswa.com/resources

Progress on road governance in Côte d'Ivoire: 19th USAID-UEMOA road transport governance report

Bribery at checkpoints in Cote d’Ivoire has fallen 15% each quarter for the past 12 months bring the country closer to the regional average and demonstrating the impact of multiple stakeholder collaboration on road governance. The decline will be reported in the 19th USAID-UEMOA joint road transport governance report (an executive summary is available at LINK). The initiative provides stakeholders quarterly with accurate and valid data on the number of checkpoints, value of bribes and length of delays on primary trade corridors in Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo.

Police officers learn about trade facilitation in Ghana

Ghana must improve the efficiency of moving goods along its roads and highways, the country’s deputy minister of roads and highways said at the opening of a USAID Trade Hub workshop for police officers focusing on reducing delays and harassment of transit truck drivers. More than 80 police officers participated in the workshop. www.borderlesswa.com

Stakeholders discuss road governance issues in Benin.

AGOA could help exporters in Chad improve their competitiveness

53 exporting companies in Chad participated in an AGOA workshop jointly presented by the U.S. Embassy, the Chadian Export Promotion Agency and the USAID Trade Hub. Stakeholders discussed how to take advantage of tariff preferences under AGOA. The USAID Trade Hub AGOA Services Manager also discussed revitalizing Chad’sAGOA Resource Center. www.agoatoolkit.com

Access to finance addressed at entrepreneurship forum in northern Ghana

45 entrepreneurs in northern Ghana learned how to improve their ability to finance their activities during a USAI D Trade Hub presentation in Tamale. The workshop was part of “Entrepreneurship Development in Northern Ghana,” a workshop organized by the U.S. Embassy. Companies in the shea and vegetable and fruit sectors participated.

Handcrafts exporters in Niger have "tremendous potential"

The handcrafts sector in Niger has significant export potential that could be realized with improved product development and increased productive capacity. USAID Trade Hub Home Décor and Fashion Accessories Advisor Elaine Bellezza discussed issues affecting Nigerien handcrafts producers with key stakeholders during a three-day visit to Niamey. Stakeholders were also encouraged to participate in the 13th edition of the Salon International de l’Artisanat de Ouagadougou. The USAID Trade Hub will present a three-day workshop for handcrafts exporters at SIAO, Oct. 26 to Nov. 4. Registration is open online.

Ethical Fashion Show features West African designers, with Trade Hub support

Four apparel designers from Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana and Nigeria participated at the Ethical Fashion Show in Paris with support from the USAID Trade Hub. The companies met hundreds of buyers at a booth designed by the USAID Trade at the show. www.ethicalfashionshow.com