In this episode of the World Bank Group's Trade Tips podcast, we find out what Caribbean rum cake can tell us about trade. We learn about the World Trade Organization's Trade Facilitation Agreement and why National Trade Facilitation Committees – made up of both the private and public sectors – are essential for cutting red tape and making trade work better.

We hear from a trader in Jamaica about the challenges and opportunities, and from the World Bank's Bill Gain, on possible solutions.

Listen now! Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

• Jeffrey Hall, CEO, Jamaica Producers Group: “The idea of Kentucky Bourbon cake being made in Jamaica is precisely what global trade is all about. It’s putting all of these ingredients together and serving them to the world. And we need trade facilitation for this to take place.”
• Bill Gain, Head of Trade Facilitation and Border Management, World Bank Group: “The Agreement will help improve transparency and predictability, and increase opportunities for developing countries.”

[00:05] Welcome and introduction

[01:29] Introduction to the Trade Facilitation Agreement & the National Trade Facilitation Committee

[03:30] To the Caribbean to meet the Jamaica Producers Group

[05:13] Lesson in trade tips via cake

[05:34] What is Tortuga Rum Cake? Why does trade facilitation matter?

[08:04] Treasure hunt of stamps and documents

[09:37] Jamaica’s take on the TFA

[11:18] Importance of the public and private sector coming together

[12:37] From Tortuga Rum Cake in the Caribbean to a coffee in London

[12:50] What is the WTO TFA?

[13:48] So how does it cut red tape? How does it make things easier at the border?

[15:39] Closure and thanks for listening!

Presenter and Producer: Sarah Treanor

Executive Producer: Marisa Zawacki

Cover art photography: Jamaica Producers Group

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This podcast was created by the World Bank Group with funding from the Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP). The TFSP is funded by nine donor partners: Australia, Canada, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This initiative provides assistance to countries seeking to align their trade practices with the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).

***

This Trade Tips podcast tackles the big issues in the world of trade and explores solutions. In this new podcast from the World Bank Group, we take you on a journey around the globe – from Vanuatu to Ghana, Jamaica to Nepal, London to Washington, DC. Through conversations with traders who are being affected by key issues like climate change, digitization, gender – and experts offering cutting-edge solutions – we highlight why trade matters and how it can be made more efficient. Don't miss an episode! Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 

Trade is an engine of growth that creates better jobs, reduces poverty, and increases economic opportunity. The World Bank Group works with client countries to improve their access to markets and enhance their participation in the global economy. Learn more.

In this episode of the World Bank Group's Trade Tips podcast, we explore how technology can transform global trade. We learn how digitization can make trade faster, easier, more transparent and predictable.

We hear from traders in Ghana and Vanuatu about their challenges, and from the World Bank's Alina Antoci on possible solutions.

Listen now! Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

• Miishe Addy, CEO, Jetstream Africa Ghana: “Without efficient supply chains, the businesses in Africa who want to export will not be able to compete globally without technology.”
• Jonathan Naupa, owner, Tropical Rainforest Aromatics, Vanuatu: “We have this Vanuatu electronic single window system for trade – the first in the Pacific. It is working brilliantly.”
• Alina Antoci, Senior Trade Facilitation Specialist, World Bank Group: “Technology makes trade faster, cheaper, and easier, but also more transparent and predictable."

[00:05] Welcome and Introduction

[01:05] Perspective from a Kava exporter from Vanuatu

[03:53] Vanuatu Electronic Single Window

[04:51] Exporting now faster, easier

[05:38] To Ghana to meet Jetstream Africa

[09:41] How Jetstream tackles trade obstacles with digitization

[10:55] Importance of more efficient trade for Africa

[11:19] To Washington: What is the impact of digitization?

[11:51] Benefits of digital platforms for trade

[13:23] Improvements for economies

[15:23] Closing and thanks for listening!

Presenter and Producer: Sarah Treanor

Executive Producer: Marisa Zawacki

Cover Art: Creatures Africa

***

This podcast was created by the World Bank Group with funding from the Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP). The TFSP is funded by nine donor partners: Australia, Canada, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This initiative provides assistance to countries seeking to align their trade practices with the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).

***

This Trade Tips podcast tackles the big issues in the world of trade and explores solutions. In this new podcast from the World Bank Group, we take you on a journey around the globe – from Vanuatu to Ghana, Jamaica to Nepal, London to Washington, DC. Through conversations with traders who are being affected by key issues like climate change, digitization, gender – and experts offering cutting-edge solutions – we highlight why trade matters and how it can be made more efficient. Don't miss an episode! Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 

Trade is an engine of growth that creates better jobs, reduces poverty, and increases economic opportunity. The World Bank Group works with client countries to improve their access to markets and enhance their participation in the global economy. Learn more.

In this episode of the World Bank Group's Trade Tips podcast, we learn why the world's most popular fruit is facing a devastating disease, and how diseases can be prevented from spreading across borders.

We hear from a trader in Mozambique and academics in South Africa about the challenges, and from the World Bank's Shane Sela, on possible solutions.

Listen now! Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

• Gladys Tazan, manager of banana farm: Jacaranda, Mozambique: “We fought with the disease and lost the farm.”
• Diane Mostert and Altus Viljoen, University of Stellenbosch: “It is incredible how this disease has come into Africa, the Middle East, and Latin America. So it is happening, and it’s usually because of human mistakes.”
• Shane Sela, Senior Trade Facilitation Specialist (SPS), World Bank Group: “It’s preventing these organisms from moving across borders that’s so important.”

[00:01] Welcome and Introduction

[01:22] Bananas and blight: The history of the disease

[02:53] The impact on a banana farm in Mozambique

[06:27] Banana blight and global trade: The perspective from South Africa

[07:49] How measures at borders can keep the disease out of new countries

[09:28] To Washington, DC to find out more

[09:43] What does SPS mean?

[10:43] How climate change has impacted SPS issues

[11:17] Fall armyworm

[12:32] Balancing trade and risk

[12:56] Closing and thanks for listening!

Presenter and Producer: Sarah Treanor

Executive Producer: Marisa Zawacki

***

This podcast was created by the World Bank Group with funding from the Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP). The TFSP is funded by nine donor partners: Australia, Canada, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This initiative provides assistance to countries seeking to align their trade practices with the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).

***

This Trade Tips podcast tackles the big issues in the world of trade and explores solutions. In this new podcast from the World Bank Group, we take you on a journey around the globe – from Vanuatu to Ghana, Jamaica to Nepal, London to Washington, DC. Through conversations with traders who are being affected by key issues like climate change, digitization, gender – and experts offering cutting-edge solutions – we highlight why trade matters and how it can be made more efficient. Don't miss an episode! Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 

Trade is an engine of growth that creates better jobs, reduces poverty, and increases economic opportunity. The World Bank Group works with client countries to improve their access to markets and enhance their participation in the global economy. Learn more.

In this episode of the World Bank Group's Trade Tips podcast, we explore why women are so invisible when it comes to trade, and why policies and practices that are gender inclusive matter.

We hear from traders in Rwanda and the Solomon Islands about their challenges, and from the World Bank Group's Heidi Stensland, on possible solutions.

Listen now! Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

• Maryse Mbonyumutwa, Asantii, pan-African clothing brand based in Rwanda: “For a Rwandan woman, what policies can be put in place to make sure this new industry is going to be a win-win.”
• Diana Yates, cocoa and chocolate exporter, Cathliro Trading, the Solomon Islands: “There are many of us who have export-ready products, but we were not invited or informed. I’m not sure if it’s because I’m a female. If we sit back and we do not explore, we will be at a disadvantage.”
• Heidi Stensland, Senior Private Sector Development Specialist, World Bank Group: “Trade has been and will continue to be a very critical driver of poverty reduction. But it’s usually hard to win a game if you are playing with only half the players or far less players than the other team.”

[00:04] Welcome and introduction

[01:24] Meet Asantii: A pan-African clothing brand based in Rwanda

[03:37] Role of women in the garment trade

[04:19] Women: Heart of the business

[05:17] Trade challenges for women

[06:47] Perspective from a cocoa exporter in the Solomon Islands

[08:18] Hear from the World Bank’s lead on trade facilitation and gender in Washington

[08:32] Why does it matter that women participate in trade?

[09:51] What kinds of policy issues impact women?

[11:14] How the Great Lakes region in Africa has helped facilitate inclusion of women in trade

[13:20] Closing and thanks for listening!

Presenter and Producer: Sarah Treanor

Executive Producer: Marisa Zawacki

Cover art: Asantii

Art direction: Cedric Mizero

Photographer: Chris Schwagga

***

This podcast was created by the World Bank Group with funding from the Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP). The TFSP is funded by nine donor partners: Australia, Canada, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This initiative provides assistance to countries seeking to align their trade practices with the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).

***

This Trade Tips podcast tackles the big issues in the world of trade and explores solutions. In this new podcast from the World Bank Group, we take you on a journey around the globe – from Vanuatu to Ghana, Jamaica to Nepal, London to Washington, DC. Through conversations with traders who are being affected by key issues like climate change, digitization, gender – and experts offering cutting-edge solutions – we highlight why trade matters and how it can be made more efficient. Don't miss an episode! Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 

Trade is an engine of growth that creates better jobs, reduces poverty, and increases economic opportunity. The World Bank Group works with client countries to improve their access to markets and enhance their participation in the global economy. Learn more.

In this episode of the World Bank Group's Trade Tips podcast, we explore the relationship between trade and climate change, and how shipping can tackle its huge carbon emissions.

We hear from Maersk – the world’s largest container shipping firm – about how a new and greener future is needed for the industry, and from the World Bank's Vicky Chemutai, on the challenges and opportunities ahead.

Listen now! Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

• Morten Bo Christiansen, Head of Decarbonization, Maersk: “There is technology available to operate on green fuels, but there are no green fuels available at the moment. So you have this situation that there are no green fuels because no one is building green ships, and there are no one builds the green ships because there are no green fuels."
• Vicky Chemutai, Economist, Young Professionals Program, World Bank Group: “All of the solutions that we are talking about need to be implemented at scale. But the solutions exist.”

[00:05] Welcome and introduction

[01:14] What is the shipping industry doing about climate change?

[02:07] How much have carbon emissions become a priority?

[03:49] What will fuel the ships, if not fossil fuels?

[05:59] Near shoring and the supply chain crisis

[07:41] The bigger picture - The link between trade and climate

[08:53] Where are we seeing the most acute issues?

[10:07] How can trade contribute to the solution?

[12:43] Closing and thanks for listening!

Presenter and Producer: Sarah Treanor

Executive Producer: Marisa Zawacki

***

This podcast was created by the World Bank Group with funding from the Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP). The TFSP is funded by nine donor partners: Australia, Canada, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This initiative provides assistance to countries seeking to align their trade practices with the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).

***

This Trade Tips podcast tackles the big issues in the world of trade and explores solutions. In this new podcast from the World Bank Group, we take you on a journey around the globe – from Vanuatu to Ghana, Jamaica to Nepal, London to Washington, DC. Through conversations with traders who are being affected by key issues like climate change, digitization, gender – and experts offering cutting-edge solutions – we highlight why trade matters and how it can be made more efficient. Don't miss an episode! Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.  

Trade is an engine of growth that creates better jobs, reduces poverty, and increases economic opportunity. The World Bank Group works with client countries to improve their access to markets and enhance their participation in the global economy. Learn more.

In this first episode of the World Bank Group's Trade Tips podcast, we explore why trade matters and how it benefits economies all over the globe. We learn about the big picture when it comes to trade and how it can be made more efficient for traders.

We hear from traders in Nepal and Tonga about their challenges, and from the World Bank Group's Mona Haddad, Director of Trade, Investment, and Competitiveness, on possible solutions.

Listen now! Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

• Sundar Dahal, owner, Starlight Express, Nepal: “We should have our own exports, rather than the assembled ones. So, I thought we should start exporting tea, coffee, turmeric, ginger.”
• Tai’atu Ataata, owner of JJ Rose Store and Gallery, Tonga: “You have to have that go get attitude because it’s difficult to operate. You just have to pull yourself up and keep going.”
• Mona Haddad, Director of Trade, Investment, and Competitiveness, World Bank Group: "Trade is an engine of growth that creates better jobs, reduces poverty, and increases economic opportunity. Economic growth underlined by better trade practices, has lifted more than one billion people out of poverty since 1990.”

[00:02] Welcome and introduction

[01:27] Perspective from a cardamon trader in Nepal

[05:06] From landlocked Nepal to the Pacific island nation of Tonga

[08:09] Now to Washington: Why is efficient and smooth trade so important for economies?

[09:45] What is trade facilitation?

[10:37] Where does the World Bank Group play a role?

[11:58] Closing and thanks for listening!

Presenter and Producer: Sarah Treanor

Executive Producer: Marisa Zawacki

***

This podcast was created by the World Bank Group with funding from Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP). The TFSP is funded by nine donor partners: Australia, Canada, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This initiative provides assistance to countries seeking to align their trade practices with the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).

***

This Trade Tips podcast tackles the big issues in the world of trade and explores solutions. In this new podcast from the World Bank Group, we take you on a journey around the globe – from Vanuatu to Ghana, Jamaica to Nepal, London to Washington, DC. Through conversations with traders who are being affected by key issues like climate change, digitization, gender – and experts offering cutting-edge solutions – we highlight why trade matters and how it can be made more efficient. Don't miss an episode! Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform. Tell us what you think of our podcast here.

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 

Trade is an engine of growth that creates better jobs, reduces poverty, and increases economic opportunity. The World Bank Group works with client countries to improve their access to markets and enhance their participation in the global economy. Learn more.

Have you ever wondered how global trade works? Welcome to the Trade Tips podcast from the World Bank Group. We will be guiding you around the world of trade – exploring the big issues and the solutions. We will be hearing from people who are on the front lines of trade - from Vanuatu to Ghana, Jamaica to Nepal, London to Washington, DC. We are excited to launch with all six episodes on January 30, 2023. Until then, take a listen to what you can expect.

Presenter and Producer: Sarah Treanor/Executive Producer: Marisa Zawacki

***

This podcast was created by the World Bank Group with funding from Trade Facilitation Support Program (TFSP). The TFSP is funded by nine donor partners: Australia, Canada, the European Commission, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, the United States, and the United Kingdom. This initiative provides assistance to countries seeking to align their trade practices with the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA).

***

This Trade Tips podcast tackles the big issues in the world of trade and explores solutions. In this new podcast from the World Bank Group, we’ll take you on a journey around the globe – from Vanuatu to Ghana, Jamaica to Nepal, and Washington, DC. Through conversations with traders who are being affected most by key issues like climate change, digitization, gender – and experts offering cutting-edge solutions – we will highlight why trade matters and how it can be made more efficient. Don't miss an episode! Listen and subscribe for free on your favorite platform.

The World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for low-income countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development. 

Trade is an engine of growth that creates better jobs, reduces poverty, and increases economic opportunity. The World Bank Group works with client countries to improve their access to markets and enhance their participation in the global economy. Learn more.