Uganda traders urged to embrace Naivasha ICD
Nairobi – February 19, 2020
KPA Managing Director Dr. Arch. Daniel Manduku has encouraged the Uganda business community who use the Port of Mombasa to take advantage of the newly constructed dry port in Naivasha.
Addressing business representatives at a meeting in Nairobi today, the MD noted that the distance from Kampala to the ICD Naivasha was just 500 kilometers hence beneficial to the traders.
He announced that a team comprising KPA and the business community will be formed immediately with the aim of streamlining all operational issues relating to the new facility.
Dr. Manduku at the same time encouraged those interested in investing in the value addition sector to take advantage of the available land in Naivasha which the Government of Kenya offered to Uganda.
The MD was accompanied by the General Manager Operations and Harbour Master Captain William Ruto, General Manager Corporate Services Mr. Edward Kamau and the Head of ICD Mr. Peter Masinde.
The delegation led by the Uganda Consul General Mombasa, Ambassador Katureebe Tayebwa, have been in the country since Sunday purposely to gauge the developments put in place to improve service delivery through the Northern Corridor.
On Monday, they toured the Port of Mombasa before travelling by the SGR train from the Coastal city to Naivasha ICD.
They also visited the Inland Container Depot Nairobi (ICDN) which currently handles an average of 8 freight trains per day.
Last year ICDN handled 418,000 TEUs against the 257,000 TEUs handled in 2018.
The Uganda business representatives present include; Ministry of Works Uganda, Kampala City Traders Association, Regional Lorry Drivers and Transport Association, Uganda Manufacturers, Mukwano Group, Roofing's Company, Ministry of Investments, Maersk lone Uganda, Real Estates and Uganda Investment Authority.
Commenting on their undertaking in Kenya, Mr. Paul Munyoro of Roofing Rolling Mills Limited described their trip as having been informative, engaging and an eye opener.
"It has been the best platform in the region for solutions in the logistics industry," he added.
On his part, Mr. Benedict Lule, External Sales Executive Maersk Uganda, lauded the improvements through the SGR saying they were the best efforts towards easing trade and enhancing efficiency in the whole logistics chain.