The East African Business Council (EABC) is seeking equal treatment of all those entering Kenya from Tanzania, irrespective of whether they are truck drivers or ordinary citizens.
Currently, ordinary citizens from Tanzania are allowed to proceed once they produce a Covid-19 certificate.
Truck drivers are however subjected however have to produce the certificate from Tanzania and still undergo another testing at the border point and are only allowed in after the results are out, EABC complained yesterday.
The process according to Tanzania immigration officials and truck drivers takes more than a week delaying delivery of goods.
EABC chief executive Peter Mathuki has also called for the strengthening of public-private partnerships between Kenya and Tanzania to boost bilateral trade.
He was speaking during a mission led by Kenya’s East African Community and Regional Development Principal Secretary Kevit Desai, to the Namanga border.
The team sought to establish the capacity of aflatoxin surveillance while also witnessing the testing and issuance of Covid-19 certificates.
Mathuki urged EAC governments to fast track the economic stimulus packages to support businesses.
Covid-19 is estimated to cost East Africa partner states between $37 billion (about Sh4 trillion )to $79 billion (Sh 8.56 trillion) in output losses.
In March-July 2019, the value of Kenya’s exports to Tanzania stood at approximately $336 million(Sh36.4 billion) while imports stood at $275 million (Sh29.8 billion)-Central Bank of Kenya data.
The team also visited the proposed site for construction of an integrated cross-border Market at Namanga.
The market that will sit on 200 acre land parcel will be built by the ministry (East Africa Community and Regional Development) in collaboration with the Kajiado County government.
The project expected to boost trade is expected to be replicated in other EAC border points.
“The market is set to enhance trade between Kenya and Tanzania, promote value addition, spur economic growth and ensure standards and quality assurance or goods traded between the two countries,”EABC said.