By lowering trade restrictions, Kenya and Tanzania want to promote free commerce. This choice follows President William Ruto’s trip to Tanzania; both nations have had a long-standing trading relationship.
By January of the following year, Kenya has committed to facilitating trade with Tanzania, a neighboring nation. The choice was made to promote trade between the two countries and boost the amount of locally produced commodities that were traded between them. The removal of all pending trade duties between the two countries before the end of January has already been planned, according to Mr. Isaac Njenga, Kenya’s High Commissioner to Tanzania.
During the Jamhuri Day celebrations in Dar es Salaam, he said that the President of Kenya’s visit has already sparked the removal of over 50 non-tariff barriers, boosting bilateral commerce between Kenya and Tanzania. ”Our commitment to resolving Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) has significantly contributed to the growth in trade between our two countries,” the high commissioner said.
Detailed financial information Kenya’s exports to Tanzania climbed from Ksh 31.4 billion in 2020 to Ksh 45.6 billion in 2021, according to Mr. Njenga. In addition, he noted that total trade increased from Ksh58.6 billion in 2020 to Ksh95.7 billion in 2021, almost doubling from Ksh27.2 billion in imports from Tanzania to Ksh50.1 billion in 2021. “Our regional bodies serve as the foundation for increased integration of our countries into continental and worldwide institutions. As a result, we are committed to continuing our collaboration,” he said.
The high commissioner claims that encouraging people from both economies to engage in free commerce and explore inside Africa for solutions rather than having to import them from a foreign market is one of the main goals of reducing trade barriers.
Dr. Damas Ndumbaro, the minister for constitutional and legal affairs of Tanzania, who was present at the ceremony, observed that due to the many parallels between the two nations—including their tribes, cultures, and other factors—they have a very close relationship. In addition to direct trade, both nations have worked together to promote infrastructure, security, agriculture, energy, tourism, and other fields.