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EAC launches online tool to monitor border posts in region
What you need to know:
- The partner states will embark on data collection, sensitization on use, and full rollout.
Arusha. The East African Community (EAC) has unveiled an online tool to measure the performance of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) constructed across the region to facilitate trade.
The measurements will include time spent on administrative procedures, reduction of transport costs and reduction of inventory costs, among others.
Customs administrators will use the data generated by the measurement tool to assess OSBP performance and institute improvement strategies.
"The tool is now ready for use. The partner states will embark on data collection, sensitisation on use and full roll out,” said Ms Annette Ssemuwumba, the EAC deputy secretary general.
Launching of the tool took place in Nairobi on Monday during the opening session of the 14th African Union High-Level Private Sector Forum.
Ms Ssemuwumba, who is in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, urged the partner states and stakeholders to embark on data collection, sensitization on use and full roll out. She said although the shared OSBPs were constructed across key border routes a decade ago at the cost of $117 million, there had been a lack of data on their performance.
These, according to her, include failure to capture the optimal performance of the 22 OSBPs that have been in operation for years for informed decision making.
The unified border posts were put up at key border crossings to spur intra-regional trade by reducing the cost of doing business.
This was to be attained through reduction of time and costs taken to cross borders, a process which is often hampered by red tape.
Despite having operated for years, there has been a lack of data on their general performance as well as state of their physical and digital infrastructure. She said the new tool has been developed to measure the performance of OSBPs on six fronts namely; Time, Cost, Volume/ Throughput, Infrastructure, Inter-Agency Coordination and User Satisfaction.
Ms Ssemuwemba said OSBPs were central for enhanced interconnectivity of markets as well as a solution to delays and costs of transport of goods and passengers.
“The OSBP Performance Measurement tool will enable us to collect and analyse data in real-time, giving us up-to-date performance rates, including wait times, clearance processes, and trade flows,” she said.
The real-time reporting will enable policy makers to promptly identify bottlenecks and any other issues "therefore facilitating quicker decision-making and effective resource allocation”.
The tool, Ms Ssemuwumba pointed out, has been developed with support from USAID through TradeMark Africa – TMA (formerly TradeMark East Africa).
This complements TMA partnership with EAC Partner States to build and operationalise 16 out of the EAC region’s 22 OSBPs, investing over $117 million.
The TradeMark Africa Senior Director for Trade Environment, Mr Alban Odhiambo, said there was a need for the region to ensure a return on investment on the development of the OSBPs through enhanced trade in the region.
“A lot of human, time and monetary capital has been invested in putting up the OSBPs.
"We must therefore ensure we derive the most value through regular monitoring and enhancements as this is important to keeping down the costs of doing business in EAC,” he said.
The unveiling ceremony of the EAC OSBP Performance Measurement Tool was attended by Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs from the partner states and other dignitaries from across the region.
