TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) have today signed a Ksh. 7.5 million($82362) deal to develop an online web portal to track origin of exports.
The portal is in response to the challenge exporters’ face in accessing manual certificates of Origin including delays. Kenya’s exports declined in 2013 to Kshs.502 billion($5.6 billion) from Kshs.518 billion($5.7 billion) in 2012. On the other hand, imports increased in 2013 to Kshs.1,413 billion($15.6 billion) from Kshs.1,375 ($15.1 billion) in 2012. Consequently, the trade balance was Kshs.857 billion 2012 as compared to Kshs.911 billion in 2013.
This move is in line with trade facilitation objectives of Kenyan government . With the portal the KNCC stakeholders will apply for and renew membership online.
The launched portal will also include business development process which will entail online registration, automated verification and processing of registration, online payment for registration and automated issuance of registration.
In addition to establishing the portal KNCCI will also focus on training and sensitization of stakeholders on its use and a communication plan to sensitize stakeholders and general public in order t ensure that the portal is not only efficient but also useful.
Kiprono Kittony, Chairman of KNCCI said: ” The automation process will include membership automation as well as the certificate of origin and KNCCI will be able to register members online form the County Chambers as well as at the National level. The application, verification, approvals and payments would all be undertaken online and this would assist KNCC in service delivery to members and also enhance recruitment process.”
The web portal will be integrated with other government agencies including Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Kenya Revenue Authority(KRA) via an interface with the Kenya National Single Window currently in development by the Kenya Trade Network Agency (KENTRADE).
TradeMark East Africa will provide technical and financial support to KNCCI.
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