KRA launches 3 trade centres to enhance regional trade

Speaking during the launch of the facilities on Friday, KRA Commissioner General Humphrey Wattanga, lauded the new development as a game-changer for trade within the East-African region. 

He explained that the three centres would also help ease congestion at the Malaba and Busia border posts and also reduce transit time to move cargo from Mombasa to South Sudan. 

“The facilities are critical in the movement of goods within this region and are expected to enhance KRA’s operations along the South Sudan link road. Establishing these centres will further expand KRA’s footprint in the county, bringing the Authority’s services closer to the people,” he stated.

“Today, we celebrate a monumental achievement in both trade facilitation and border security. This project will ensure our borders are secure, our business environment remains conducive, and society at large is protected,” Wattanga added

According to the Commissioner General, the trade hubs will host KRA staff and support cargo monitoring along the corridor as part of the LAPSSET Corridor Program to deter challenges such as robberies, smuggling and cargo dumping. 

Commissioner for Customs and Border Control Lilian Nyawanda added that the centres would also provide trade services to local communities. 

 “The centres will ensure that we are facilitating legitimate trade and creating direct access for cargo entering South Sudan,” she noted.

“In terms of trade facilitation, we are bringing services closer to the community, which will likely lead to a surge in economic activities. Turkana was selected due to its strategic location as a gateway to South Sudan, and the centres will enable seamless movement of goods and people along the Lokichar-Nadapal-Nakodok route,” she added. 

The trade centres are expected to enhance access to KRA services and thus reduce operational costs for local traders and KRA personnel. 

The centres form part of the Eastern Africa Regional Transport, Trade, and Development Facilitation Project that is funded by the World Bank.