Kenya and Tanzania to ease border trading
President Kibaki (right) flanked by Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete during a joint news conference at State House, Nairobi September 11, 2012. The countries agreed to strengthen trade ties by facilitating free cross-border movement of goods and services.
What you need to know:
- President Kibaki and Tanzanian leader Jakaya Kikwete say more investment opportunities required as volume of trade between the two countries on the increase.
- Tanzania is one of Kenya’s largest trading partners alongside Uganda and the United Kingdom.
Kenya and Tanzania have agreed to strengthen trade ties by facilitating free cross-border movement of goods and services.
President Kibaki and his visiting Tanzanian counterpart Jakaya Kikwete said more investment opportunities were required now that the volume of trade between the two countries was on the increase.
"Our volume of trade with Kenya has indeed increased over the years from $200 million to $600 million,” said President Kikwete at a news conference.
“What is now important is that we should create a conducive environment for more investment opportunities in both countries for businesses to thrive. This will further consolidate our brotherly ties,” he said.
The two spoke at State House Nairobi after holding bilateral talks.
President Kikwete, who arrived in the country Tuesday, is on a three-day State visit.
Tanzania is one of Kenya’s largest trading partners alongside Uganda and the United Kingdom.
According to statistics from the Exports Promotion Council, Kenya’s total exports to Tanzania last year were valued at Sh41.05 billion as compared to Sh33.21 billion in 2010.
Kenya’s imports from Tanzania were valued at Sh15.58 billion in 2011 an increase from sh10.55 billion in 2010.
Major import products from Tanzania that dominated last year included furnishing articles, paper and paperboard, maize, electric transformers, textiles, rice, animal products, tubes and pipes flour and meals of oil seeds & vegetables among others.
Tuesday's talks between the President Kibaki and President Kikwete also centred on enhancing the Joint Commission for Cooperation between the two countries, promoting food security and agricultural development, protecting the environment and regional security.
The two leaders also discussed the increased frequencies of maritime accidents along the Indian Ocean coast and Lake Victoria and agreed on the need to jointly deal with the disasters resulting from these incidents.
Regarding regional security, the two leaders agreed on the need to work jointly with other countries to fight threats of terrorism, piracy and other transnational crimes.
