Kenya is urging African countries to enhance trade and economic development by lifting restrictions on the movement of goods and people across their borders.
In an interview with CAJ News Africa on the sidelines of the Kenya Trade and Investment Summit in Cape Town, Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) director Gilbert Langat said hindrances at the borders were stifling trade and the growth of local economies.
“The time has come for Africa to increase trade and investment among member states. While trade and investment are being enhanced, Africa should also look into formulating policies that generate sound economic growth,” said Langat.
He said Kenya was playing its part in promoting easier movement of goods and people across its borders. It has enabled the landlocked East African nations of Ethiopia, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan to benefit immensely from its Mombasa seaport. Mombasa is the country’s second largest city after the capital Nairobi.
Mombasa handled 26.7 million tonnes of cargo between January and December 2015, compared to 24.88 million tonnes handled during the same period in 2014.
Tanzania’s Dar es Salaam serves as East Africa’s other port of trade, but it only handles on average 250 000 to 300 000 tonnes annually.
Langat said that if the entire African continent could be driven by the desire to promote the smooth movement of goods, services and people, the continent would soon realise its economic potential.
He said easing free movement across borders would ensure job creation, partnerships among African member states and increased trade, for the betterment of the continent’s estimated population of 1.1 billion.
KenTrade is a state corporation under the Kenyan national treasury. It is mandated to facilitate cross-border trade and to establish, manage and implement the National Electronic Single Window System as a Vision 2030 flagship project.
“As KenTrade, we are facilitating trade through e-commerce. We are making this simple by simplifying and harmonising business processes through effective management of the TradeNet System and the provision of related services for Kenya’s global competitiveness,” said Langat.
He said the bilateral investment summit confirms that fellow African nations are willing to work together to promote trade and investment within and beyond their own borders.
“Kenya and South Africa need each other. Both countries have their strengths and weaknesses, which can be utilised to benefit the two regional economic giants of the continent.” — CAJ News