By Rading Biko
The Kenya Revenue Authority has been urged to fast track the clearance of goods from Tanzania.
This comes at a time when Kenya’s export to Tanzania hit USD 139 million, while imports at USD 118.6 million in the first quarter of 2022.
A group photo during the East African Business Council (EABC) Trade Facilitation Forum
According to John Bosco Kalisa, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, East African Business Council (EABC) “Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials should be posted to the key cities in Tanzania to facilitate the pre-arrival clearance of exports from Tanzania to Kenya to reduce traffic queues at the border. Tanzania has already posted Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) officials in Mombasa and Nairobi to facilitate the pre-arrival clearance of goods under the Single Customs Territory framework.”
Speaking at the EABC Trade Facilitation Forum at Horohoro-Lunga Lunga OSBP, Mr Kalisa revealed that Kenya doing destination clearance of goods at Horohoro OSBP leads to delays and long queues of cargo trucks to Kenya.
The Manager of Horohoro OSBP Tanzania said, “This pilot running of one-stop border operations at the Horohoro-Lunga Lunga One-Stop Border Post has eased the free movement of goods and persons between Kenya and Tanzania.”
The number of trucks entering Kenya from Tanzania has increased to 150 per day while 80 cross over into Tanzania daily. Tanzania’s trade volume increase is attributed to coal and maize exports.
Mr Sadik Ndoro, Chairman of Clearing and Forwarding Associations appealed for the removal of the Single Tax System levy charged on Kenyan trucks entering Tanzania.
He commended the Governments of Kenya and Tanzania for waiving off COVID-19 mandatory testing for fully vaccinated passengers.
The chairperson of women cross-border traders in Kenya Ms Zipporah urged the county governments to waive off cess levies to ease the free movement of cargo across EAC borders. She further appealed to the border management to institute a trade help desk for women cross-border traders and construct cross border market “Jumiya Market” with amenities such as crèche & stores.
Mr Sammy Tutua, Chairman of Cross Border Traders in Kenya called for more sensitization campaigns for MSMEs on custom procedures and EAC simplified trade regime.
Ms Eugenia Mwesiumo, from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation -the United Republic of Tanzania pointed out “EAC is more integrated than other regional economic communities in terms of social and trade ties.”
Dr Juma Wahungu from the Ministry of EAC and Regional Development Kenya commended EABC for rolling out dialogues at the border with the business community to resolve trade barriers.
The Manager of Kenya Revenue Authority at LungaLunga OSBP said imports for Tanzania increased to 3300 trucks per month from 1500 trucks while exports stand at 1000 trucks following the elimination of Non-Tariff barriers.
Kalisa added that intra-EAC trade was at USD 5.9 billion in 2020. A joint border performance charter and instituting a green lane for EAC originating goods will enhance trade facilitation and boost intra-EAC trade to 40%.”
In 2021 Kenya’s exports to Tanzania hit 409.7million in 2021 from USD 295 million in 2020 while Kenya’s imports from Tanzania stood at USD.
The trade facilitation forum was supported by GIZ’s “Support to East African Market-Driven and People-Centered Integration” programme (SEAMPEC).
