East African Community or EAC Secretary-General, Dr. Peter Mutuku Mathuki, has revealed that the Secretariat is set to avail a trade hotline for cross-border traders to register their challenges and get prompt feedback, across all border posts.
He said the move is to resolve persistent Non-Tariff Barriers and reduce time spent in the movement of goods and persons.
Dr. Mathuki during his first maiden visit at Namanga One Stop Border Post said “the hotline will enable us to register persistent trade barriers, provide feedback and make follow ups”.
EABC is calling for the harmonization of taxes and charges across the region, reduction of weigh bridge costs and punitive fines imposed across borders.
Tanzania Ambassador to Kenya, Dr John Stephen Simbachawene, restated the commitment of their government to deepen relations to resolve trade barriers.
The Secretary General, who has been in office for few days, was lauded for being the first to hold a public-private dialogue with traders and for facilitating agencies.
He was also praised for creating optimism on fast-tracking pending trade and policy issues.