Uganda: Props Up for the Elimination of Trade Barriers to Strengthen Regional Trade

By Abdul Rahman Bangura-

NEW AFRICA DAILY NEWS (NADN) Freetown, Sierra Leone– The Uganda National Coordinator for Norther Integration Projects during the Single Customs Territory (SCT) and Immigration, Tourism, Trade and Services (ITTLS) Cluster discussions kept up in Kigali Rwanda last Friday.

Ambassador Richard Kabonero, Uganda’s National Coordinator for the Northern Corridor Integrated Projects (NCIPs), has underscored the desire to eradicate intra-trader barriers to improve trade within the region.

“We must appreciate the critical importance of eliminating trade barriers and enhancing infrastructure to facilitate smoother regional trade within the Northern Corridor,” Kabonero said at the Single Customs Territory (SCT) and Immigration, Tourism, Trade, and Services (ITTLS) Cluster meetings in Kigali, Rwanda last Friday.

The Northern Corridor connects the Port of Mombasa in Kenya with cities in Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, and Ethiopia.

Kabonero noted that the objectives of the Single Customs Territory, including seamless flow of goods and lowering clearing costs must be upheld to boost trade in the region.

Uganda hangs around devoted to regional integration and financial transformation through the NCIPs, Kabonero said.

“Together with our regional partners, we are committed to realizing tangible benefits that will uplift the livelihoods of our people.”

The NCIPs ambition intends to confound physical and administrative impediments to trade, with a priority on infrastructure projects like the Standard Gauge Railway and trade facilitation measures. Kabonero brought out important improvements made under different projects and vowed ceaseless alliance among partner states.

“As Uganda prepares to host forthcoming meetings for other NCIPs clusters, we stand ready to report concrete deliverables at the 15th Summit, reflecting progress achieved since the inception of these initiatives.”

New Africa Daily News Abdul Rahman Bangura Reports, Africa Correspondent