For immediate Release

Kenya TradeNet finally Goes Live

Nairobi November 4, 2013 …………………Import Traders in Kenya can now transact

business online following the roll out of Kenya National Electronic Single Window

System also known as Kenya TradeNet which went live on October 31, 2013 at

23:59hrs. The roll out of Kenya TradeNet being implemented by State Agency,

KENTRADE, marked the transitioning of Kenya from the existing multiple manual

systems by various stakeholders in cargo import into an integrated electronic cargo

clearance platform.

Speaking during the roll out of Kenya TradeNet at KENTRADE offices in Nairobi, Chief

Executive Officer, Alex Kabuga, said that the System’s switch is signified an important

milestone as it is the beginning of the Kenya TradeNet operations in the Country. “The

roll out of the Kenya TradeNet on October 31, 2013 is an important milestone as it

marks the beginning of the automation of cargo documentation processes by

integrating Systems of all key stakeholders involved in cargo clearance such as Kenya

Revenue Authority and Kenya Ports Authority among others” he said.

Kenya TradeNet will also integrate with the National Payments System (NPS) via a

National Payment Gateway to ensure an end to end electronic solution in trade

logistics. Kenya TradeNet is a web based portal and is accessible 24/7 nation-wide to

stakeholders in trade logistics industry and will facilitate the flow of goods in and out of

Kenya’s borders.

Mr. Kabuga added that KENTRADE had adopted a soft launch approach to manage help

the scope of the project by using a sample of stakeholders in a live pilot phase. “In

keeping with the best practices, we have opted for a soft launch of the roll-out to allow

a subset of the stakeholders to use the System, in what is referred to as pilot” he said.

The pilot stage will involve 10 out of 24 Government agencies and 40 private sectors

companies involved in cargo clearance processes at the Port of Mombasa, JKIA and land

border posts. He said that there would be live transactions from selected group of

Authorized Economic Operators (AEO) during which the System will be monitored for

the 30 days and coverage increased before a phased roll out to all groups and stations”

.The rest of the System users will be brought on board at the beginning of December

2013 after being trained in the month of November.

The services that that are currently accessible in the System include, Impending Arrival

Report and Actual Arrival Report, Manifest Submission for Sea and Air and Other

Government Agencies (OGAs) permits for Kenya Bureau of Standards, Kenya Plant

Health Inspectorate Services, Horticultural Crop Development Authority, Pharmacy and

Poison Board, Veterinary Department and Port Health.

There other modules will gradually be incorporated in subsequent roll out which will

involve Integration with Partner Government Agencies (PGA), Dynamic Risk

Management, Road Manifest Module and Declaration module for land. Kenya TradeNet

shall supplement the current systems such as SIMBA and KWATOS to work together in

order to ease trade facilitation in the country but will not replace any existing system.

The implementation of Kenya TradeNet will contribute to elimination of inefficiencies,

wastage and delays that are associated with the Port of Mombasa, Jomo Kenyatta

International Airport cargo terminals and land border posts. The Project is the first of

its kind in Kenya and is aimed at improving Kenya’s global and regional

competitiveness through integration of import cargo clearance and trade logistics

processes. Latest global ranking by World Bank on Ease of Doing Business showed that

Kenya had dropped by 7 points from position 122 in 2012/2013 to 129 in 2013/2014

while Rwanda which relies on Kenyan ports for import clearance had improved by 22

points from number 54 to 32

The process of implementation of the System began in May 2012, and since then,

KENTRADE has been working round the clock to ensure that it meets the October 31,

2013 deadline. Project Director, Amos Wangora said although the System rollout was

on time, benefits would be realized gradually. “Rarely do we find projects completed in

scheduled deadline but we are proud to say that KenTrade has managed to meet the

October 31, 2013” he said.

During the 2013 Taxpayers Day that was organized by Kenya Revenue Authority in

October 2013, H.E President of the Republic of Kenya, Hon.Uhuru Kenyatta said that the

National Electronic Single Window System will simplify trade procedures,

“Additionally, we want to make it cheaper, faster and easier for importers to lodge their

import documentations, that is: ships notification of arrival list, ship-and air-cargo

manifests, Import Declaration Form (IDF),pre-clearance licenses and permits issued by

government agencies. All required payments will be made through the planned single

portal.

The Single Window System is being funded by the Government of Kenya with counter

funding from the Investment Climate Facility, International Finance Corporation and

other donors such as Trade Mark East Africa. Kenya Trade Net which is a flagship

Project of Kenya’s Vision 2030, is a key success factor to infrastructure driven economic

growth due to its linkage to land, sea and air based trade. Kenya TradeNet is funded by

the Government of Kenya (GoK) with counter funds from the Investment Climate for

Africa (ICF) and other Development Partners.

________________ENDS _____________

For further details please contact: Ann Odero Corporate Communications Manager Kenya Trade Network Agency Email: aodero@kentrade.go.ke Cell : 0722 256 009 Tel: 0202614887

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Additional information:

About KENTRADE

Kenya Trade Network Agency (KENTRADE) is a State Agency under the Ministry of National Treasury with the

mandate to facilitate external trade and implement the Kenya National Electronic Single Window System (KNESWS)

The Electronic Single Window System is platform that allows parties involved in trade and transport to lodge

standardized information and documents with a single entry point to fulfill all import, export, and transit-related

regulatory requirements. Key stakeholders – includes Kenya Revenue Authority, Kenya Ports Authority, Kenya Bureau

of Standards, Tea Board of Kenya, Kenya Bankers Association, Kenya Shipping Council, Kenya Plant Health

Inspectorate Services, Kenya association of Manufacturers, Kenya Maritime Authority, Kenya Shipping Agents

Association and Kenya ICT Board

The objectives of the Kenya National Electronic Single Window System (KNESWS) Project are:

To facilitate international trade in Kenya by reducing delays and lowering costs associated with clearance of

goods at the Kenyan borders, while maintaining the requisite controls and collection of levies, fees, duties and

taxes, where applicable, on imports or exports.

Reduction of cargo dwell time at the Port of Mombasa to a maximum 3 days and a minimum of one day at the

Jomo Kenyatta International Airport over a period of 1 year after operationalization. At the border posts the

Single Window System is expected to reduce the cargo dwell time for both transit and intra-regional trade

consignments to a maximum of one hour.