Nairobi – June 29, 2011
Today, the Kenya Shippers Council (KSC), represented by the Chief Executive, Gilbert Langat, has signed a Grant Agreement with TradeMark Africa (TMA), represented by Jason Kap-Kirwok, the TradeMark Africa (TMA) Country Director Kenya Programme.

“Kenya Shippers Council is excited about this partnership with TradeMark Africa which is expected to develop strategies that will reduce the cost of transport on the Northern Corridor. TradeMark will be a key partner in establishing KSC as a one-stop information centre for transport, logistics and trade information”. said Gilbert Langat.

The East African region is currently characterized by high logistics costs and low levels of service provision. Logistics costs currently account for about 42% of the total cost of importing, while costs associated with delays represent about 23% of the total import process cost. To address this, TradeMark Africa (TMA) is providing financial support to KSC to enhance logistical competitiveness for cargo owners in the region through policy dialogue and research based advocacy on transport and trade facilitation issues.

Through TradeMark Africa (TMA) financial support, Kenya Shippers Council (KSC) will:

Develop and Implement strategies to reduce the cost of transport on the Northern Corridor
Expand it’s membership base and achieve sustainability
Build on the current technical support provided by TradeMark Africa (TMA) (The E-Regulations Portal Project) to establish KSC as a one-stop information centre for transport, logistics and trade information
Prepare KSC to transform to Shippers Council of East Africa (SCEA)

NOTES FOR EDITORS

To arrange for interviews please contact:
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Jason Kap-Kirwok
Country Director, Kenya
Phone: +254 (0) 733 600 753
Email: jason.kapkirwok@trademarkea.com
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Gilbert Langat
Chief Executive Officer,Kenya Shippers Council
Phone: +254 20 2684799
Email: gilbert.langat@kenyashippers.org
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Source: TradeMark Africa(TMA)

TradeMark Africa (TMA) is an aid-for-trade organisation that was established with the aim of growing prosperity in East Africa through increased trade. TradeMark Africa (TMA) operates on a not-for-profit basis and is funded by the development agencies of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, UK, and USA. TradeMark Africa (TMA) works closely with East African Community (EAC) institutions, national governments, the private sector and civil society organisations.