A new report has shown that Tanzania exported goods worth KSh 13.9 billion to Kenya in the first quarter of this year.
According to The Citizen, the increased imports from Tanzania forced the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to post officials in Mombasa and Nairobi.
The officials were in charge of pre-arrival clearance of goods from the neighbouring country.
At the same time, the East African Business Council (EABC) reported that Kenya exported goods to Tanzania worth KSh 16.3 billion during the same period.
Kenya is also considering posting Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) officials in Horohoro-Lungalunga border to facilitate the clearance of goods.
This follows complaints from EABC executive director John Bosco Kalisa who decried delays at the border.
“KRA should be posted to the key cities in Tanzania to facilitate the pre-arrival clearance of exports from Tanzania to Kenya to reduce traffic queues at the border,” Kalisa said at the EABC Trade Facilitation Forum at Horohoro-Lunga Lunga One Stop Border.
Kalisa said Kenya should emulate Tanzania who posted TRA officials in Mombasa and Nairobi under the Single Customs Territory framework.
“The pilot running of one-stop border operations at the Horohoro-Lunga Lunga One-Stop Border Post has eased the free movement of goods and persons between Kenya and Tanzania,” he noted.
He also stated that trucks entering Kenya has increased to 150 per day while those entering Tanzania stands at 80 per day.
Kalisa attributed the increase to coal and maize exports.
KRA officials at LungaLunga OSBP said imports for Tanzania increased to 3300 trucks per month from 1500 trucks.
Exports stood at 1000 trucks following the elimination of Non-Tariff barriers.
