EAST Africa is witnessing a flourishing trade, thanks to heavy investments in trade infrastructure and dismantling of bureaucratic and procedural barriers to economic integration, according to TradeMark Africa.

TMA said during the launch of their 2013/14 annual report in Dar es Salaam last week that investments in trade infrastructure as well as the dismantling of bureaucratic and procedural barriers to economic integration were positioning the EAC region as the destination of choice for doing business.

It said that encouraging results achieved over the past year, including investments at key ports have resulted in reduced cargo transit times on East Africa’s main transport corridors, and accelerated implementation of the EAC’s Single Customs Territory.

The donor funded organisation said harmonisation of product standards had also expanded the East African Community trade basket.

The Annual Report details TMA’s vision of enhancing integration in the region through trade and highlighted successful projects which include modernisation and expansion of East Africa’s two main ports of Dar es Salaam and Mombasa.

At the Dar es Salaam port, TMA partners with the World Bank and UK’s Department for International Development (DFID) to support a 596 million US dollar grand project to modernise and expand the port with a view to improve operational efficiency.

The project, titled Dar es Salaam Maritime Gateway Project, is billed to improve the physical capacity of infrastructure and operational efficiency at the port by demolishing sheds 2 and 3 of the port.

The demolition work began last month. In addition, roads leading to the port would be upgraded and gates to introduce a single way traffic flow system would also be installed. Dredging and modernising of berths to allow handling of bigger vessels will also be executed.

TMA has also collaborated with the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) to implement the proposed Mombasa Port Development Programme with the aim of improving productivity and optimising supply chain for the different cargo trades.

The organisation said the Mombasa Port Corridor Charter and Performance Dashbord launched by President Uhuru Kenyatta in June last year marked an important milestone for the Mombasa port project and cemented commitment from participating stakeholders to double the efficiency of the port and the northen corridor.

TMA further stated that its partnership with the East African Governments has resulted to great progress in delivering seven key One Stop Border Posts (OSBP) across East Africa this year to increase physical access to markets for both formal and informal traders.

Pilot operations at the Kobero/ Kabanga between Tanzania and Burundi borders already indicate a two day reduction in transit times at Kabanga for cargo trucks, as well as reduction in tedious formalities for traders which have had adverse impact on time and costs of business in the past.

The organisation registered notable results in elimination of non-tariff barriers in the region where as it resolved more than 40 per cent registered in an online and SMS reporting system last year in Tanzania.

TMA supports the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Tanzania Chamber of Commerce Industries and Agriculture through funding and technical assistance to develop and enhance mechanisms through which NTBs are indentified, reported, monitored and eliminated to facilitate an easy flow of trade within Tanzania and East Africa.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade and TCCIA support an online and SMS NTBs reporting system. The project was extended throughout the country to ensure reporting of the NTBs was effective.

A reported NTB complaint is followed up by NTB National Monitoring Committee (NMC) which updated the business community on the progress of elimination. The committee meets monthly to discuss the new reported NTBs as well as those pending.

TMA is funded by a range of development agencies with the aim of growing prosperity in East Africa through trade.

It works closely with East African Community (EAC) institutions, national governments, the private sector and civil society organisations to increase trade by unlocking economic potential through increased physical access to markets, enhanced trade environment and improved business competitiveness.

Source: Daily News

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of TradeMark Africa.