FOR IMPORTERS, BUYERS & SOURCING TEAMS
When a supplier says “we are ready”, what supports that claim? Crossgates helps structure the business information and review questions behind your assessment.
Initial focus: East African enterprise, including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Ethiopia. Availability and review scope are confirmed for each enquiry.
WHAT TO BRING. WHAT TO AGREE.
Tell us the product, origin, destination market and supplier you want to assess. Add specifications, volume and the questions blocking your decision.
Start with a short brief. Confidential documents can follow through an agreed channel.Confirm supplier consent, available records, review responsibilities, deliverables, fees and timing before work begins.
Scope may cover business identity, product claims, document status or traceability questions.Agree a summary of information reviewed, its source and date, limitations, outstanding evidence and follow-up responsibilities.
Use the findings alongside your purchasing, quality and regulatory checks.READ A PASSPORT WITH PURPOSE
A Verified Trade Passport is a structured profile of a business, its products and reviewed evidence. Review scope matters more than the badge alone.
Walk through the sample recordWhich legal entity is represented? Where does it operate? Who is authorised to act for it, and which records support that information?
What product, grade, origin, processing, capacity or seasonality is stated? Which details are documented and which are declarations?
Which documents are available or reviewed? What is the issuing source, relevant expiry date and connection to the supplier or product?
Who performed the review, when, and against which checks? What remains missing, expired or outside the agreed scope?
A PRACTICAL BUYER BRIEF
Illustrative enquiry: “We are assessing a Kenyan fresh-produce supplier for the UK. We need to clarify the business identity, product specifications, packing capacity and status of relevant documents. Please confirm which checks you can support and your proposed scope, fee and timing.”
CLEAR RESPONSIBILITIES
Begin with a supplier you are assessing or a defined sourcing requirement. The team will confirm the assistance available.
Define the product, destination, evidence needed and decision you are trying to make. Ask which specialist inspections or certifications you must arrange separately.
Access to a business’s non-public records is subject to authorisation and agreed sharing arrangements.
A Passport does not guarantee stock, creditworthiness, regulatory acceptance, supplier performance or a completed transaction. Confirm these through your own due diligence.
START WITH ONE SUPPLIER OR ONE REQUIREMENT
Start with a short enquiry. Agree the service, review scope, fee, timing and secure document-sharing arrangements with the team.