President Uhuru Kenyatta has called on East Africa Community member states to fast track implementation of electronic single window system to boost regional trade.

Speaking at the Safari Park Hotel yesterday during the launch of the Kenya National Electronic Single Window System, Uhuru said the system will strengthen integration envisioned under EAC.

“This launch marks the beginning of a new chapter towards a paperless cargo clearance process. The realisation of this initiative will undoubtedly go a long way in transforming the way we conduct international trade transactions, not only in Kenya but also in the wider East African region,” he said.

He urged ministers in charge of East African affairs to work with their National Treasury colleagues to move the agenda to EAC level and encourage partner states to work together to realise the concept.

Uhuru said the international trade logistics involve submission of huge volumes of information and documents to government agencies in compliance with import, export and transit related regulatory requirements, which is cumbersome and leads to delays.

“This information and documentation often has to be submitted through several different Government agencies in most cases each of these agencies has its own unique system which is either manual or automated. Most of the documentation is also in paper form thus creating multiple duplications that lead to enormous wastage and high transaction costs,” he said. He lauded the launch of the system saying it will have a major positive impact on business in the region if adopted regionally. Uhuru called for the implementation of the EAC regional single window platform, that will integrate the national single window systems in partner states.
– See more at: http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/article-165600/eac-states-told-execute-trade-system#sthash.zsYM70Bj.dpuf

Source: The Star

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