SGR not a threat to businesses, Mombasa transporters told
Mombasa County KNCCI chairperson Rukia Rashid (right) after signing an MoU with APA Insurance Director Shashi Shah (left) on 2nd August 2018. Ms Rashid urged traders in the transport industry to embrace SGR. PHOTO | KEVIN ODIT | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- She said that various transport and logistics companies are shutting closing down and blaming it on the SGR cargo train.
- Ms Rashid also lauded the efforts by Mombasa County government in beautifying the city.
- Buildings within the central business district are being painted in Egyptian blue and white colours.
Businessmen in Mombasa have been urged to embrace the standard gauge railway (SGR) instead of capitalising on its perceived shortcomings.
The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry urged businesspeople in Mombasa to embrace changes in both technology and infrastructure so as to find new opportunities and improve their jobs.
Speaking during the signing of a memorandum of understanding between APA insurance company and KNCCI in Likoni, the branch chairperson Rukia Rashid advised transport and logistic companies to embrace the positive changes brought about by the establishment of the SGR.
She said that various transport and logistics companies are shutting closing down and blaming it on the SGR cargo train.
Ms Rashid said there are emerging opportunities which have been brought about by the new railway line.
LOGISTICS BUSINESS
“We cannot stand in between changes. It will come, crush us and go. SGR only takes 28 percent of the logistics businesses. The rest, 72 percent, belongs to logistic companies. This signifies more room for the transport and logistic companies to thrive,” Ms Rashid said.
She also lauded the efforts by Mombasa County government in beautifying the city.
Buildings within the central business district are being painted in Egyptian blue and white colours.
Garbage collection has been intensified while the Kibarani dumpsite is being relocated.
“As a chamber, we had lobbied for Mombasa County to be painted in a uniform colour back in 2014. The numerous meetings with Governor Hassan Joho and Mombasa County's Transport, Infrastructure and Public Works CEC Taufiq Balala are now bearing good fruits,” Ms Rashid said.
Ms Rashid also appealed to the county government to extend the garbage management initiatives to the estates to ensure that the tourist city has a long-term solution to the garbage menace.
