TRADEMARK AWARDED TRADE FACILITATION PARTNER DURING KENYA’S TAX PAYERS DAY, 2015

Nairobi, 21 October 2015: TradeMark Africa was today honoured with the Trade Facilitation Partner award during Kenya’s Tax Payers day. The event held in Nairobi was presided over by Kenya’s President H.E Uhuru Kenyatta. TradeMark was recognised for its partnership with the Government of Kenya in supporting projects that will lead to increased trade and enhance Kenya’s competitiveness regionally and globally.

From Left; H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta, TMA Director General David Stanton, TMA –Kenya Country Director Dr. Chris Kiptoo and TMA Sr. Director Enhanced Trade Environment

TMA partners with all EAC states to lay the foundations for increasing prosperity by dismantling bureaucratic barriers to economic integration. Additionally, it partners with other public institutions, and private sector to unlock wealth potential that integration holds.
In Kenya, TMA is partnering with the government through its various institutions such as Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
Reacting to the award, TMA Kenya Country Director Dr. Chris Kiptoo said, “This award serves as further proof of TMA’s commitment to building lasting partnerships with the Government of Kenya and supporting it to mainstream its revenue collection and generation efforts. We are grateful to contribute to a more prosperous Kenya where cost of business is low, innovation can thrive and entrepreneurs can enjoy simpler processes. Ultimately, our goal is a wealthier Kenya.”
TMA has set aside a grant of USD 13 million to support KRA to purchase and install a new integrated customs management system.
To complement these efforts, TMA has already invested in construction and installation of IT structures of two key One Stop Border Posts at Taveta and Busia and installation of IT structures at. These are expected to reduce the time it takes for a truck to cross these borders by 30%. Such costs are huge for the freight industry and consumers alike when they buy goods in shops.
Increased efficiency of IT systems at border points will eliminate corruption loopholes, leading to improved revenue collection and cost savings for importers and exporters. TMA has partnered with KPA to undertake a port modernisation project that focuses on infrastructure development of various key yards and the Port Reitz Road.
These interventions, with a total budget value of USD 94 million are expected to increase capacity. The interventions include Port-wide productivity improvement; enhanced infrastructure and facilities, and mitigation of negative environmental and climate impacts at the Port. One further significant achievement has been the development of the Mombasa Port Charter, which commits stakeholders to work together and share information digitally.
This is a huge improvement on the previous situation where long delays in the release of goods were caused by poor information sharing practices between agencies. TMA is providing financial and technical support to KPA.
Lengthy and costly delays in the delivery of goods from the coast to landlocked countries have been tackled through bilateral talks and strengthened legislation that will eliminate non-tariff barriers. This will ensure that the One Stop Border Posts currently at different stages of development, will reduce the time it takes to cross the border by one third.
Meanwhile, the transport observatory project along the northern corridor, one of Kenya’s key
corridors, is already supplying data that will decrease bottlenecks on major routes. Overall, TMA aims to work with the governments, EAC institutions, private business and civil society to reduce by 15 % the average time it takes to import or export a container from Mombasa or Dar es Salaam to Rwanda or Burundi.
TMA Director General, David Stanton said, “We’re delighted by the recognition from the Government of Kenya for our support towards its revenue generation. We are partnering with KPA in a very successful port modernization programme in Mombasa.
We also support initiatives that reduce non-tariff barriers, and work with business to train local producers in raising product standards, and introducing modern operating systems so they can export to global markets. This will create more jobs, increase Kenya’s export capability, and reduce the trade deficit.”

Source: Trademark East 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.