Nairobi — Rwanda is ranked first with a score of 3.52 in this year’s East Africa Logistics Performance trade survey.

The survey pities the East African Community member states against each other in a bid to establish deterrents of effective trade within the region.

The 2014 Logistics Performance Survey (LPS), annual report published by the Shippers Council of Eastern Africa (SCEA), shows Uganda and Tanzania take the second and third positions with aggregated scores of 3.07 and 2.89, respectively. Kenya is placed number four with a score of 2.82 and Burundi is at position five, with an aggregated score of 2.78.

The report, which was officially launched in Nairobi, showed despite recent increases in investment on infrastructure there are other factors inhibiting the efficiency of trade.

One such obstacle is the efficiency of goods clearance process where ranked highest with a 3.13 score while Kenya and Rwanda come in second with a tie score of 3.

Kenya fairs poorly in the manner in which trade disputes are handled and on incidences of corruption and rent seeking.

Factors that were used to rate countries for their efficiency included: Timely delivery of shipments, competence and quality of logistics services, percentage of shipment that is physically inspected and fairness and transparency in customs valuations.

Speaking during the launch of the survey, Kenyan Transport Permanent Secretary Nduva Muli said despite commitment by governments to improving infrastructure, there is still need for more cooperation from all industry players.

Improving trade logistics through deepened trade facilitation is of increasing importance to EAC‘S regional integration agenda.

Source URL: East African Business Week

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