SUCCESS STORIES

First Quarter Report Financial Year 2012

First Quarter Report Financial Year 2012

23 February 2012

During this quarter, SATH completed several technical reports, including an analysis of recent global and regional experience to draw lessons about the impacts of prevalent domestic trade policies on food security; an analysis of the soy value chain; an assessment of the cotton, textile and apparel industries in Southern Africa; and a border operations assessment at Kasumbalesa between Zambia and the DRC.

Among others, SATH also continued to roll out its integrated border management program, established private sector trade linkages, trained several public and private sector officials and awarded several grants.

Success Story: SATH Succeeds in Advancing Bt Cotton Application in Malawi

14 February 2012

Cotton FieldsSATH's support of the Farmer's Union on Malawi's efforts to introduce genetically modified (GM) cotton into Malawi paid off, as the government agreed to allow commencement of trials of Bt cotton. This is a first but major step that should lead to Malawi accepting GM cotton as a commercial crop throughout the country. The wide-spread use of more drought and pest-resistant GM cotton seed varieties will lead to more jobs, particularly for women, more revenue from this popular cash crop, and is expected to have a knock-on effect in other countries in the region such as Zambia and Tanzania. Bt cotton seed does not affect politically sensitive staple food crops, and has a large impact on yields of cotton grown under small-scale dryland farming conditions.

Trade Hub Improves Competitiveness

15 December 2011

Southern African economies are now exporting more diverse products to more places.

SATH’s assistance to Keedo clothing, a high-end children’s clothing company exporting to the US ensured that more than 200 families in the Cape townships kept their incomes. Keedo’s manufacturing suppliers are women-owned, small operations.

Trade Hub Reduces Trade Costs

05 April 2011

The USAID Southern Africa Trade Hub has significantly reduced the costs associated with cross-border trade in Southern Africa.

USAID Facilitates Implementation and Launch of First RADDEx in Southern Africa

24 March 2010

Though the introduction of the Single Administrative Document (SAD 500) was a major step in trade facilitation in Southern Africa, lack of direct exchange of electronic information between border posts continued to negatively affect transit times.

DCC Adopts User Pay Principle for Corridor Sustainability

24 March 2010

The basic tenet of the User Pay Principle is that those who benefit from the corridor should pay for the support of the institution.

Facilitating Trade Along the Dar Corridor

30 July 2009

USAID’s Southern Africa Trade Hub facilitated the successful establishment of the Dar Corridor Committee (DCC) Secretariat.

Reducing Transport Costs in Southern Africa

19 November 2008

USAID’s Southern Africa Trade Hub helps lower transport costs and improve trade facilitation.

Improving Customs Efficiency

19 November 2008

Southern Africa Trade Hub helps Customs Administrators streamline and simplify clearance procedures through WCO Time Release Study.

Speeding up Customs Clearances

27 July 2008

The single customs declaration form facilitated by the Southern Africa Trade Hub is reducing administrative burdens and transit times in an increasing number of countries in the region.