Nairobi — Kenya's volume of trade rose from Sh169.65 billion in June 2020 to Sh190.76 billion in July 2020. This is according to a study conducted by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics which also reveals that the value of total exports increased from Sh48.05 billion in June 2020 to Sh52.00 billion in July 2020. Meanwhile, the value of imports increased from Sh121.60 billion in June 2020 to Sh138.76 billion in July 2020. Domestic exports by Broad Economic Category (BEC) indicated that food and beverages were the main export category in July 2020 accounting for 46.06 percent of exports, while non-food industrial supplies accounted for 22.29 percent of the total exports. The quantity of coffee exported decreased from 5,414.08 MT in June 2020 to 3,546.25 MT in July 2020 and its value dropped from Sh2,956.33 million to Sh1,799.26 million over the same period. The quantity of tea exported increased from 46,399.01 MT in June 2020 to 46,850.57 MT in July 2020. However, the value of exported tea dropped from Sh10,293.00 million to Sh10,013.83 million over the same period. Imports by BEC indicate that non-food industrial supplies were the main import category in July 2020 with a share of 39.35 percent. Machinery & other capital equipment; Fuel and lubricants; and transport equipment constituted 19.26, 12.32, and 8.24, percent of the total value of imports, respectively. Foods and beverages accounted for 9.77 percent of the total imports in July 2020. Read the original article

URA top enforcement team met with culprits that include owners of goods and owners and drivers of vehicles involved in transportation of the smuggled goods. Transit cargo trucks at URA's One Stop Border Posit pending clearance to the Kenyan side (Photos by Transit cargo trucks at URA's One Stop Border Posit pending clearance to the Kenyan side (Photos by Transit cargo trucks at URA's One Stop Border Posit pending clearance to the Kenyan side (Photos by Samuel Balagadde) Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) enforcement team is yet to decide the possible penalties to culprits involved in smuggling of goods worth sh500m in value and sh200 in taxes in the eastern region. URA is in possession of impounded goods majority of which are textile at their Busia one stop border parking yard. URA top enforcement team met with culprits that include owners of goods and owners and drivers of vehicles involved in transportation of the smuggled goods. Vincent Seruma,, the URA assistant commissioner for public and corporate affairs said though the 2004 East African Community set a maximum penalty of $10,000 among those involved in smuggle ,they looking at other alternatives. [caption id="" align="alignnone" width="720"] Vincent Seruma the URA publicist giving a brief on the enforcement exercise where three trucks, two mini taxis in the background where impounded over smuggled goods[/caption] "As URA we are more concerned when trader's goods are impounded under circumstances with heavy penalty and many may end up quoting business," said Seruna. Julis Nkwasire URA's Assistant commissioner for...

Landlocked countries are net importers and dependent on neighbours to access the sea he rapidly increasing population and a growing consumer class across Africa are creating a big demand for imported goods. This means that countries that act as the gateways to the continent improve cargo transport to tap into this evolving market. Requirements will need improvements in containerized cargo which will allow efficiency in supply chains and reduced import costs. There are 16 landlocked countries in Africa hosting 30 per cent of the continent’s 1.2 billion cargo transportation. Read: African countries urged to approach infrastructural projects jointly Interestingly, all these landlocked countries are net importers making them dependent on their neighbours to access the sea. Kenya is among the countries fronting an ocean, the Indian Ocean, making it a transit country for Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Somalia, northern Tanzania, and the eastern parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). To ensure that the Mombasa remains suitable for improved service delivery, the government of Kenya dispatched an inter-ministerial team from the National Treasury, Interior, Transport and Trade ministries to improve efficiency at the port last year. The team formed in September 2019 was to look into aspects of trade facilitation including work permits issuance, security and the relationship, and cooperation between the inter-agencies working at the port. Kenya’s Finance Cabinet Secretary, Ukur Yatani, who spoke at the time, said that Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) staff would also have set targets in a bid to ensure that the port...

A delegation from Ethiopia headed up by the minister of irrigation of Somali region, Abdirahman Iid flanked by senior military officials have on Wednesday paid an inspection visit to the port city of Berbera to learn about the port’s operation and development plans. Berbera port manager flanked by Sahil regional governor led the delegation during the inspection of the port. Ahmed Mohamed Hashi, Sahil provincial governor, speaking during the reception of the Ethiopian delegation, has asserted that the arrival of the delegation to the port is important in order to boost the bilateral working cooperation between Ethiopia & Somaliland. Berbera port manager, Said Hassan, has said that the delegation observed the port operation. Head of security for Somali region of Ethiopia, Hussein Hashi, has said that Ethiopia counts on Berbera port for its trade use. He revealed that the aim of the official working visit to Somaliland is to strengthen the ties between Ethiopia and Somaliland. He added that the port is a vital trade outlet for the entire Horn of Africa. Read the original article

THE ruling CCM presidential candidate Dr John Magufuli said the government successfully managed to register 1,307 foreign and local investment projects worth 3.3trl/- in the period of five years. In fact, the incumbent President said Tanzania is leading in the East African Community (EAC) bloc for attracting Direct Foreign Investments (FDIs). Addressing hundreds of thousands of wananchi at Samora Stadium in Iringa municipality yesterday in run up to the October 28th General Elections, Dr Magufuli said his government has strived to boost the private sector in the past five years, purposely to improve the economy and create jobs for Tanzanians. He said in the past five years, the private sector created 183,503 jobs through various investment projects. Over 50 per cent of the projects were related to industrial production. According to the party's 2015-2020 manifesto, the fifth-phase government managed to create a total of six million jobs through various projects across the country. And, Dr Magufuli said CCM through its 2020-2025 manifesto has set strategies for strengthening the private sector for mutual economic development in the country. The 303-page document states that the government is focusing on creating a total of eight million jobs in the coming five years. “Private sector is one of the key engines in driving the economy. For the past five years, a number of jobs have been created through registered projects. The ruling party is focusing on improving the sector in the coming five years so as to create more jobs and build a strong...

In Summary The sudden downturn of international tourism as a result of the new corona virus pandemic brought the world’s largest employer to a virtual standstill, leaving widespread hardship in its wake. Dar es Salaam. Tourism prices are in affordable for most Tanzanians and some foreigners - a factor which calls for government and private sector collaboration in reducing the costs if the sector is to quickly recover from the Covid-19 pandemic effects. The sudden downturn of international tourism as a result of the new corona virus pandemic brought the world’s largest employer to a virtual standstill, leaving widespread hardship in its wake. Going by the World Travel and Tourism Council, more than 197 million jobs could be lost globally if barriers to global travel - such as blanket anti-travel advisories and quarantine measures - remain in place. Strategies such as reducing parks-entry fees for citizens, and lowering, waiving or postponing payments of aircraft landing and parking fees, would lower costs of tourism, industry players say. Government tax breaks and other subsidies deemed appropriate would also boost other recovery efforts. These were among issues which were also raised on Sunday during the virtual Mwananchi Thought Leadership Forum (MTLF) which was held under the theme ‘Strengthening Tourism after the Post Covid-19’. Natural Resources and Tourism minister Hamisi Kigwangalla said there was a need of coming up with a strategy of attracting more tourists into Tanzania - adding that it was high time the sector’s players created an environment for direct flights,...

The East African Legislative Assembly has launched a 5-year strategic plan aimed at fast-tracking the remaining phases of the integration process, especially the two remaining integration pillars – the monetary union and political federation. Integration of the East African Community stands on four pillars. The other two already being implemented are the Customs Union and the Common Market, with the remaining targets being the free movement of goods, persons and capital and the harmonization of tax regimes. The Monetary Union, when implemented will lead to a single currency and central bank, while a political union aims at forming a sovereign state with one top political leader. In September 2018, a committee was formed to begin the process of drafting a regional constitution, and the confederacy was supposed to be ready for implementation by 2023. In the five years, the legislators hoped to put in place all the legal requirements for the four phases. Objectives of the plan include accelerating and consolidating sustainable production in key sectors, enhanced investment in infrastructure, accelerating the full implementation of the monetary union and mechanisms of a political Union. But, there is wide scepticism over the attainment of the last two, going by the faltering customs Union and common market, which have so far failed to do away with non-tariff barriers to trade. The strategies include the full integration of the Republic of South Sudan in the EAC Customs union, which will ultimately lead to a fully integrated EAC Customs Union by the end of...

THE East African Community (EAC) partner states are gearing towards a bright future economically, after months of stuttering due to Covid-19 pandemic. Experts say Tanzania is leading in the post Covid-19 economic recovery, especially with the resumption of tourism and air transport services. Recommencement of air travel has already shown a boost in bilateral trade between Tanzania and Kenya. Air travel between the neighbours stopped after Kenya slapped a ban on Tanzania aircrafts with the latter retaliating in the same way. The East African Business Council (EABC) has expressed its appreciation to the Tanzania Civil Aviation Authority (TCAA) and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA) for facilitating the agreement on air services resumption in the EAC region. EABC Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Peter Mathuki said the Covid-19 pandemic has hit hard businesses and investment in the East African bloc, with disruptions on global supply chains testing the resilience of business ecosystems and reducing intra EAC trade. Dr Mathuki called upon EAC partner states to liberalise the regional airspace, such that regional and international cargo carriers can pick consolidated products for export from each EAC partner state to destinations, where they have substantial and consistent demand. "There is a need for speedy authority operations especially at border-crossing areas to avoid overcrowding of traffic, taking into consideration road safety issues for freight and passenger movements," said Dr Mathuki. The recovery strategy for businesses in the EAC, also recommends a strengthened partnership between the public and private sectors for business...

Summary Presidents Magufuli and Ndayishimiye agreed to build a narrow gauge railway from Uvinza in western Tanzania to Gitega in central Burundi. After last week’s maiden tour of Tanzania, where Burundi’s President Evariste Ndayishimiye met Tanzanian President John Magufuli in Kigoma, the two countries agreed to build a railway to transport minerals from Gitega. Addressing the crowd in Kigoma, President Magufuli said that they agreed to build a narrow gauge railway that will help transport nickel from Burundi. “I have assured him that the experts here revived a railway from Dar to Kilimanjaro and Arusha; they can’t fail to build this one,” said President Magufuli. The railway is expected to run from Uvinza in western Tanzania to Gitega in central Burundi through Musongati, where the largest deposits of nickel are found. The two governments have set up a permanent commission to implement the project. Burundi has 231 mega tonnes of proven nickel reserves. The two governments are also working on setting up a refinery for the mineral. It is also rich in vanadium, gold, rare earth, phosphates, kaolin, quartzite and limestone. Burundi imports most of its cargo through Dar es Salaam. Tanzania Deputy Minister for Minerals Stanslaus Nyongo told The EastAfrican that Tanzania will strengthen business ties with other landlocked countries. Tax payments for minerals have been harmonised to curb illegal business transactions across the border. Reforms in mining have accelerated the sector’s growth in Tanzania. The country expects a turnover in revenue from mining of Tsh600 billion ($270 million)...

These include expansion of access roads such as at Gate 18, used by trucks, which is being expanded to three lanes for both incoming and outgoing traffic. Phase Two of the second container terminal (CT2), which is berth number 22, will be completed by August 2021 and will have the capacity to handle about 450,000 TEUs. According to Managing Director Kenya Ports Authority Eng Rashid Salim, the port has invested Ksh 274 million on new 30 terminal tractors in an effort to boost cargo handling capacity at the Port of Mombasa and the Inland Container Depot. The 30 tractors will boost existing fleet of 102 and enhance the loading of cargo on to the Standard gauge railway system. The new machines are part of KPA’s Equipment Replacement Program that has been running for several years now. Container traffic at the port went down but we are getting back as we continue. Also Read  Kenya unveils postage stamp to honour Mahatma Gandhi ” We are still building the Lamu port. The 3 berths at Lamu port are 80% complete. The first ship is hopefully expected by the end this year at the port. ” Said Salim. Also Read  We'll assist you to do business in Kenya, Uhuru assures French investors Kipevu Oil Terminal The Kipevu Oil Terminal – KOT is one of Kenya´s Vision 2030 flagship projects and an enabler for the Big Four transformation Agenda. The project which is fully financed by Kenya Ports Authority at a cost of Kshs.40 billion, will expand our...