Uganda business community applauds KPA
Mombasa – July 13, 2017
The Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has commended the Kenya Ports Authority’s efforts in promoting businesses in the transit markets.
The Secretary General of the Chamber Mr. Ezra Rubanda said traders in Uganda have noted positive developments in their businesses following the initiatives put in place by KPA.
“In the past we used to have a lot of challenges such as losing cargo especially through clearance agents but at the moment that has reduced drastically because of the intervention measures by KPA,” he said.
KPA Managing Director Mrs. Catherine Mturi-Wairi addressing the IGAD delegation.
Mr. Rubanda who is also the Head of Trade Policy, Research and Advocacy at the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, further observed that the transit time from the Port of Mombasa to Kampala has also reduced from the previous over 24 days to five days.
The official who was part of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) delegation that paid a courtesy call on the KPA Managing Director Mrs. Catherine Mturi-Wairi at the KPA headquarters, encouraged the MD to ensure the importers become aware of the good progress.
“We really want to thank the KPA management because we are noticing a lot of changes in port operations” He added.
The MD assured the delegation of KPA’s commitment on handling cargo efficiently and remain competitive in the region and beyond.
A section of the IGAD delegates follows the proceedings of the meeting.
She highlighted the performance of the Port of Mombasa and key expansion projects of the Authority.
“Last year the Port handled 1.091 million TEUs and the overall throughput grew by 2.4 percent to post the best ever performance of 27.36 million tons,” said the MD.
Mrs. Wairi told the meeting that following the ongoing port expansion program, the Port can now handle vessels of up to 6000 TEUs capacity which translates into economies of scale thus lowering the cost of doing business.
The delegation which was led by Mr. Joseph Rwanshote of the IGAD secretariat did an extensive tour of the Port facilities and were impressed by the expansive infrastructural developments especially at the Second Container Terminal.
KPA Managing Director Mrs. Catherine Mturi-Wairi presents a corporate gift to Mr. Joseph Rwanshote of the IGAD secretariat. Looking on is the National Vice Chairman Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. James Mureu.
Also present was the National Vice Chairman of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mr. Joseph Mureu.
The visit came after the 4th Biennial meeting of the IGAD business forum in Mombasa held from 11th -12th July 2017 with an aim of expanding areas of regional cooperation.