Rwanda, Tanzania to boost cross-border trade

GOVERNMENT

The Ministries of Trade and Industry from Rwanda and Tanzania have agreed on a series of measures to promote cross border trade.

In a two day meeting in Kigali this week, Rwanda’s Minister of Trade Hon. Kanimba François and his Tanzanian counterpart, Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Gregory G. Teu, agreed to work jointly to improve infrastructure and procedures at Rusumo border including fast-tracking construction of the One-Stop-Border-Post, establishing Trade Information Desks.

"We have also agreed to work on ensuring enough reliable power and interfacing of the Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA) and Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) Customs Information Technology systems using RADDEX,"Minister Kanimba said

Among other resolutions were that tax collection bodies from both countries would consult and reach consensus regarding the possibility of accepting a single customs bond for both Rwanda and Tanzania instead of the current situation where Rwandan traders are required to execute customs security bonds to cover Rusumo and Kigali.

Tanzania on its side agreed to expedite ongoing projects to expand and modernize the port of Dar es Salaam and construct a new port at Bagamoyo and work out the process of extending 24-hour operations system to all other border stations to facilitate prompt clearance of goods.

According to Teu, Tanzania will expedite the study on optimal number of weighbridges, road blocks and checkpoints whose results are expected in December, to comprehensively resolve any outstanding issues.