The Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM) and Trade Mark East Africa has today launched the National Trade Facilitation Committee (NTFC).
The committee is aimed at promoting trade facilitation regimes in the country.
Trade and industry minister, François Kanimba, officially launched NTFC and said that the committee will play a key role in the coordination and implementation of the trade facilitation agreement at national level.
“The launch today marks our country’s commitment towards the implementation of the trade facilitation agreement which is one of the requirements of the World Trade Organisation,” Minister Kanimba said.
He noted that this is in line with article 23 of the trade facilitation agreement of the World Trade Organization which states that each member state should establish and maintain a national committee on trade facilitation.
Trade facilitation committees in the EAC partner states will ensure that authorities are responsible for controls and procedures related to the importation, exportation and transit of goods, and collaborate with one another.
“We are grateful for the significant support undertaken by different government agencies present here in selecting and delegating members who will constitute the NTFC. I would like to reiterate our ministries and government’s firm commitment towards facilitating this committee,” Kanimba added.
He urged the appointed members to be more active and productive towards the execution of their new mandate, adding that that consultation and full engagement of each member is crucial for the success of the NTFC.
Rwanda has undertaken several reforms aimed at facilitating trade and efforts have been made through the introduction of electronic single window, cargo tracking system and one stop border posts among others.
The NTFC was approved by cabinet in November last year and according to MINICOM’s Permanent Secretary, Emmanauel Hategeka, the committee is comprised of representatives from different institutions which include MINICOM, Private Sector Federation, Rwanda Revenue Authority, Rwanda Standards Board, Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources and Rwanda Development Board among others.
Source: The Rwanda Focus

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