Trademark East Africa (TMEA) has launched the process
of setting up a logistics centre in Gulu town to facilitate trade between
Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
of setting up a logistics centre in Gulu town to facilitate trade between
Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan.
Speaking to journalists at their offices in Kampala,
TMEA country director Moses Sabiiti said the organization has already secured
$8m (Shs 28.8bn) from United Kingdom’s Department for Foreign Aid (DFID) and
European Union for the world-class facility.
TMEA country director Moses Sabiiti said the organization has already secured
$8m (Shs 28.8bn) from United Kingdom’s Department for Foreign Aid (DFID) and
European Union for the world-class facility.
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| Moses Sabiiti, TMEA Country Director (Photo: The Observer) |
“The hub will be able to handle 500,000
containers at one time, making it one of its kind in the region,” Sabiiti
said.
containers at one time, making it one of its kind in the region,” Sabiiti
said.
He explained that the Gulu Logistics Hub will be
located at the current grounds of Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) – an intersession
between road and railway.
located at the current grounds of Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) – an intersession
between road and railway.
This land was given to TMEA – a not-for profit company
established in 2010 to support the growth of trade in East Africa – by the
Uganda government for this sole purpose. He said the design works have started
and the subsequent works will be tendered out in June after the designs are
complete.
established in 2010 to support the growth of trade in East Africa – by the
Uganda government for this sole purpose. He said the design works have started
and the subsequent works will be tendered out in June after the designs are
complete.
“Our aim is to change the job market in northern
Uganda as we hope to create more jobs in the area. This will complement with
government’s plan to rehabilitate and expand Gulu Airport, that will make easy
importation of goods in and out of the region,” he said.
Uganda as we hope to create more jobs in the area. This will complement with
government’s plan to rehabilitate and expand Gulu Airport, that will make easy
importation of goods in and out of the region,” he said.
In another development, TMEA has announced that it
will contribute to the automation of Entebbe airport in order to fasten the
clearing of goods.
will contribute to the automation of Entebbe airport in order to fasten the
clearing of goods.
“You have been following the expansions,
improvements and the rating [of Entebbe] in traffic but what I can tell you is
that our airport in terms of clearance time, compared to other countries in the
region, is still very slow,” he said.
improvements and the rating [of Entebbe] in traffic but what I can tell you is
that our airport in terms of clearance time, compared to other countries in the
region, is still very slow,” he said.
Sabiiti noted that although majority of other
countries are able to do pre-import clearance of goods, it is impossible at
Entebbe airport as it is still done manually.
countries are able to do pre-import clearance of goods, it is impossible at
Entebbe airport as it is still done manually.
“We want to support government and the ministry
of Trade and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to do the automation of the airport
facility; we will contribute to advanced clearance of goods,” he said.
of Trade and Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) to do the automation of the airport
facility; we will contribute to advanced clearance of goods,” he said.
EASE BUSINESS
In order to improve the business environment in the
region, the five partner states of the East African Community agreed to work
together and boost economic ties, as well as put in place facilities to reduce
the cost of trade in the region.
region, the five partner states of the East African Community agreed to work
together and boost economic ties, as well as put in place facilities to reduce
the cost of trade in the region.
Among the many initiatives implemented is the One Stop
Border Post (OSBP) concept, which has boosted trade facilitation across borders
harmonizing border control regulations and procedures and thus, enabling
expeditious and more effective border control mechanisms.
Border Post (OSBP) concept, which has boosted trade facilitation across borders
harmonizing border control regulations and procedures and thus, enabling
expeditious and more effective border control mechanisms.
The initiative has also reduced the number of stops by
consignments at border posts and other transactions by combining border control
activities at a single location. This means that there are no repetitions of
clearing procedures.
consignments at border posts and other transactions by combining border control
activities at a single location. This means that there are no repetitions of
clearing procedures.
Such projects by the EAC countries have been
implemented successfully by employing Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) to ease the sharing of data that is useful in border control operations.
implemented successfully by employing Information and Communication Technology
(ICT) to ease the sharing of data that is useful in border control operations.
