There's a top notch regional training program that is equipping at least 400 clearing and forwarding agents based at the Kenya-Uganda boarder with the relevant skills and knowledge to enable them meet the demands of increased trade in the region.... And trade is GROWING at a fast pace..!!!!
Program: The East Africa Customs Freight forwarding Practicing Certificate / EACFFPC
(By the end of 2013 this will be a mandatory licensing requirement for all clearing and forwarding agents in the EAC)
This is of course an exciting opportunity; more so now that the Busia-Malaba border class has a lot to offer the trade industry in terms of professionalizing it to further ensure it operates efficiently and cost effectively.!! KRA as well has expressed its desire to engage professionally with the clearing fraternity that can articulate customs laws and regulations. Even the Uganda Revenue Authority (URA) has invested in various ICT applications aimed at enhancing coordination among various agencies in and across boarders.
The joint boarder classes have been launched with support among the various customs and freight logistics agencies in Kenya and Uganda. Quite a number i might add. There are 8 classes catering for 400 "students" #clearing agents. 2 from the Kenya-Malaba border, 2 on the Malaba-Uganda border & 4 classes in Busia. How about that..!! Good stuff..!! Especially because Busia is the busiest border crossing between Kenya and Uganda while the border town of Malaba is the second busiest crossing point.
The papers recently indicated that trade within the EAC is expected to receive a major boost after Kenya prioritized the construction of five special border posts in its budget. Get this, a pilot post at Malaba on Kenya’s border with Uganda has reduced cargo clearance from two days to just two hours..!!!! Fantastic..!!!
The new class at the borders follows on the heels of the successful graduation of 100 clearing and forwarding agents in Uganda.
The next regional intake - June 2013 and the call for applications is underway. The announcement is expected to be published in the public media to ensure all clearing agents are aware of the looming deadline - December 2013
Certificates will become a pre-condition for any clearing agent to receive an operational license for the year starting January 2014.
#STAY INFORMED#
