First 6bn/- one-stop border post to open at year end

BabuK · 2012-10-23T18:09:37+00:00

The first ever one-stop border post (OSBP) in Tanzania is scheduled for completion at the end of this year before being handled to the government. It will cost over 6bn/-. Speaking to journalists during a visit to Holili in Kilimanjaro at the weekend, the OSBP Projects Director, Theo Lyimo, said the post would reduce clearance duration for passengers and goods that cross the Tanzania-Kenya border. Funds for construction of the OSBP and provision of ICT requirements have been issued by Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA). Other requirements include wireless connectivity across the border and licensing of computer hardware and software. Modernisation of Holili to an OSBP means that traffic to either side of the border would stop only in the country of entry instead of the current practice where it stops on both sides. "Its completion means a bus to Mombasa will not stop at Holili, but only in Taveta where Tanzanian as well as Kenyan officials will carry out the required border clearance formalities. On the other hand a truck from Mombasa to Tanzania will stop at Holili," Lyimo said. At the OSBP, border officials from both countries will be working side by side, hence to reduce costs of trading across the borders and support the government's efforts in promoting investments and exports. Lyimo said that though both countries have very competent border officials, still they will require induction into the environment of a OSBP to be knowledgeable of the flow of the new traffic and of the rules working side by side. Its full operation awaits the signing of a bilateral agreement between the two governments. "The Holili OSBP is one of the four in Tanzania that TMEA is funding. Others are Mutukula on the border with Uganda, Kabanga (Burundi) and Tunduma on the border with Zambia," he said. While Holili will be ready at the end of the year, Mutukula and Taveta are expected to be completed by 2013. Recently, Tanzania's East African Cooperation minister, Samuel Sitta and his Kenyan counterpart held a meeting at the border town to discuss different issues on how to strengthen trade and relations at the border. SOURCE: THE GUARDIAN

Thread starter BabuK
Start date Oct 23, 2012

BabuK

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First 6bn/- one-stop border post to open at year end

BabuK

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