The Minister for Foreign Affairs, East African, Regional and International Cooperation, Ambassador Augustine Mahiga, and Kenya's, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Labour and East African Affairs, Phyllis J. Kandie, opened two state-of-the-art border posts at Holili and Taveta set up by TradeMark East Africa to ease customs procedures between Tanzania and Kenya and boost trade in the Eastern African region.

 

The East African Community Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, also graced the occasion which was also attended by top government officers from Tanzania and Kenya including the Kilimanjaro Regional Commissioner, Amos Makala and Taveta County Commissioner, Oningoi Ole Sosio.

 

Speaking at the event, Ambassador Mahiga said the opening of the Holili and Taveta border post reflected the determination of Tanzania and Kenya to boost regional integration through trade facilitation.

 

"It's a demonstration of trust between the two countries and that the One People, One Destiny dream is slowly being realized through various East Africa Community initiatives," he said.

 

Dr Mahiga said the OSBP is set to increase efficiency by reducing time and transport costs incurred by businesses, farmers and transporters in crossing the border. The Minister further said that the Arusha-Holili/Taveta-Voi road which was currently under construction would boost cross border trade and foster good neighbourliness between Kenya and Tanzania.

 

He added that the two countries had demonstrated the political goodwill to implement EAC initiatives. Dr Mahiga said the next step was capacity building in the management of OSBPs to ensure smooth operation and better service delivery.

 

He called on the Tanzania and Kenya business community to make good use of the posts and take advantage of the new facilities to spur cross border trade which plays an important role in poverty reduction as it provides trading opportunities for a good number of people.

 

The success and operation of the one stop border post at Holili and Taveta marked a key milestone in streamlining business across border and enhancement of cross-border trade, he said.

 

"I am confident the transformation will go a long way to facilitate easier movement of people across the border and boost trade between the two countries. It will reduce the cost of doing business and facilitate easier movement of goods and people across border," he said.

 

Kenya's Cabinet Secretary for Labour and East African Affairs, Phyllis J. Kandie said the opening of the One Stop Border Posts at Holili and Taveta border marked an important milestone in the integration process of the region and called upon the business community to make optimal use of the facilities to enhance trade.

 

"Kenya cherishes the vision of widening and deepening of integration... Kenya strongly believes in dynamism of regional integration," she said. She said with the construction of Voi and Taveta Road nearing completion, the new facilities at Holili and Taveta would boost trade in the East African region and unlock trade potential of the Kilimanjaro Region and Taveta County.

 

"I am pleased to appraise the substantial progress already recorded in the construction of the Taveta-Mwatate-Voi road section. Already, 75 per cent of the road is complete and opened for use.

 

"It is anticipated that by the end of this year, the outstanding works on that section will be complete and the people of Taveta and Northern Tanzania for the first time will travel to and from Mombasa and other parts of Kenya with ease," he said.

 

Mr Kandie noted that Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) remained a big challenge on the economic front and should be addressed by all partner states as a matter of urgency. "NTBs constitute prolonged formalities, multiplicity of institutions, limited capacity at entry points, technical requirements and travel restrictions through convoys and time of day among others.

 

"These are implemented through protectionist tendencies among trading blocs commonly referred to as 'Behind the border measures'. "The challenge that comes with the elimination of NTBs is their mutative nature.

 

Their impact on intra-EAC trade flows is serious and real. They stifle trade; depress returns on investment, and add extra costs to goods traded across our borders," she said.

 

The EAC Secretary General, Dr Sezibera, said Holili/ Taveta OSBP was the first among eight on the borders of the EAC Partner States that have been completed and are awaiting to be commissioned.

 

Dr Sezibera said the EAC realized that the economies of member states were interdependent, adding that the best approach was to work together to reduce the costs of doing business.

 

"This OSBP will boost trade by facilitating faster clearance of cargo, realize significant reduction in transport costs and ensure effective border control mechanisms are put in place," he said.

 

The TMEA Director of OSBPs, Theo Lyimo, said the Holili/Taveta border posts were among 55 OSBPs in East Africa and South Sudan funded by TradeMark East Africa. He said they expected a return of 30 US dollar for every dollar invested in the project.

Source : allafrica.com