Nairobi, Kenya. November 7, 2024. Recognizing the critical role of soft infrastructure in streamlining border operations, representatives from the USAID Economic Recovery and Reform Activity (ERRA) implemented by TradeMark Africa, the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, and the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA), today, flagged off a consignment of digital equipment from Computech Limited in Nairobi to four land border posts: Lwakhakha (Kenya/Uganda) and Loitoktok / Tarakea (Kenya/Tanzania). The equipment is expected to bolster public access to government services and enhance the operational efficiency of cross-border regulatory agencies in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
This initiative follows a series of assessments by TMA and partner institutions including, the EAC Secretariat and various government agencies across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. These evaluations highlighted the strategic value of the four selected borders in moving agricultural commodities and facilitating trade that drives regional economic growth and food security. By streamlining clearance processes, and strengthening connectivity, this effort supports broader trade activities along critical EAC corridors.
KRA Deputy Commissioner of Border Control and Enforcement, Chege Macharia, celebrated witnessing the milestone event, stating, “KRA’s biggest role isn’t tax collection; it is trade facilitation. This consignment will advance our goals by enabling multiple border agencies to share essential digital infrastructure. Internet access will improve service delivery, boost efficiency, and enhance security against cross-border threats.”
EAC Secretariat Customs Officer in charge of Procedures and Trade Facilitation Evariste Munyampundu emphasized the partnership’s significance. “Trade facilitation is fundamental development. Our strong, ongoing partnership with the US government, and the American people by extension, underpins our commitment to automated trade processes. EAC, the most dynamic Regional Economic Community in Africa, is proud to leverage this initiative to secure prosperity for generations.”
TradeMark Africa’s Director of Trade and Customs, Benedict Musengele, and ERRA Chief of Party, Mark Priestley, noted the transformative impact of digital efficiencies on regional trade. – “These borders handle massive movement of agricultural commodities, and streamlined digital processes will heighten trading from food surplus to food deficit countries in support of Feed the Future goals.”
According to recent data, the volume of trade: between July 2021 and June 2022, the Lwakhakha border saw 5.37 million kilograms of Ugandan agricultural products, including cereals (rice, maize, beans), fruits (bananas, watermelons, avocados), vegetables (tomatoes, yams), and animal feed (rice and wheat bran). The Loitoktok/Tarakea border between Tanzania and Kenya, handled goods valued at $39.2 million in 2022, primarily fruits (oranges, watermelons, pineapples), vegetables (onions, potatoes), legumes (peas, groundnuts), cereals (maize, cowpeas), as well as animal feeds, wood, and LPG gas. Tanzania also imported $41.2 million worth of goods from Kenya, of which 92% were processed industrial goods and 8% agricultural products, with notable items including animal feeds, industrial household goods, juices, edible oils, and pastries. This illustrates the growing interconnectivity within the region and its significance for East Africa’s trade future.
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