KenTrade eases export procedures

The Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) has announced plans to simplify trade
procedures for Avocado and Fish this year. They hope this change will lower administrative costs for traders.

KenTrade Director, David Ngarama spoke on the matter while at the KenTrade head office is Nairobi. “This effort will move to reduce the time and cost of trading the two commodities.”

Kenya mainly imports frozen tilapia, frozen mackerels, sardines, prawns and salmon among others while the country exports frozen Nile perch, tuna, octopus, whole tilapia and lobsters notably to the European Union.

On the other hand, Avocado contributes heavily to the earnings in the horticultural sector. Last year, Kenya was the top in Africa in terms of avocado exportation. Furthermore, Kenya was amongst the top 10 producers of the crop in the world.

Benefits of KenTrade easing processes

Currently, KenTrade is working in close partnership with Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) on this exercise.

In addition, the other stakeholders involved in the exercise include KEPHIS, Horticultural Crops Directorate (HCD), Directorate Public Health, Port Health Services, Department of Veterinar Services (DVS), Kenya Fisheries Services, County Directorate of Fisheries, State Department of Trade (NTFC) Kenya Fish Processors and Exporters Association (AFIPEK), Avocado Society of Kenya, Avocado Exporters Association of Kenya. 

KenTrade has mapped out procedures for over ninety-five commodities, including procedures of export, import and transit of trade information portal. The system has been dubbed InfoTradeKenya Portal.

“Upon mapping the procedures, the team started simplification of trade procedures in 2018. To date, procedures for export of coffee, tea, meat & meat products, flowers, nuts & oils, and cotton have been simplified. This has resulted in reducing cost and time for a first-time trader, with simplification of avocado and fish in the current financial year,” Mr Ngarama added.

The simplification process has reduced the administrative and cost burden incurred by businesses significantly. Specifically the registration procedure from Kes.40,197.35 (USD 402) to Kes.15,287.29 (USD 153). In turn, saving businesses a total of KES 24,910.06(USD 250), approximately 62 percent of the total cost.