Trade Information Desks (TIDs) introduced by the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa) are helping to speed up cross-border trade in the region. TIDs are seen as one of Comesa’s biggest successes. One example is the Malaba desk on the Kenya-Uganda border which is currently handling an average of 500 transactions and volumes estimated at over US$200 000 in a month. Introduced in mid-2011 with the support of the European Union, the Trade Information Desks provide information on the Comesa Certificate of Origin, the Simplified Customs Document, SPS standards and non-tariff barriers to small-scale traders and producers. The programme was first adopted by Zambia, Malawi and Zimbabwe, followed by Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. The desks also manage the certificate books, fill out forms and assist traders with obtaining Sanitary and Phytosanitary Standards (SPS) certificates from the agriculture authorities.
