Namanga border reforms boost trade efficiency

NAMANGA: IMPROVED services at the Namanga border have reduced the time traders spend processing goods, boosting efficiency and strengthening Tanzania’s access to East African and other international markets.

Deputy Minister for Industry and Trade Mr Dennis Londo said recently that the improvements reflected government efforts to make cross-border trade faster and more efficient while creating a more supportive environment for businesses.

Mr Londo made the remarks during a Ministry of Industry and Trade visit to Namanga border to assess trade operations and listen to views from traders and producers on challenges affecting their businesses.

He said the visit was part of the ministry’s regular engagement with stakeholders to assess service delivery and identify areas requiring further improvement.

“Namanga is one of the country’s important borders because it facilitates the movement of goods produced in Tanzania to the East African market and other markets around the world,” he said.

Mr Londo said the ministry also inspected operations of the Tanzania Bureau of Standards (TBS), one of the government institutions responsible for providing services to traders at the border.

“For us, it is important to see how effectively they are performing their duties and serving traders importing and exporting goods through Namanga,” he said.

He commended cooperation between TBS and more than 18 government institutions operating at the border, saying coordination among the agencies had contributed to improving service delivery and reducing the time traders spend completing business procedures.

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The deputy minister said the ministry also engaged private sector users of border services to understand their experiences and gather recommendations on how services could be further improved.

He described the private sector as a key beneficiary of the National Development Vision 2050, stressing that efficient border services were essential for improving business competitiveness and facilitating trade.

Mr Londo said traders had expressed satisfaction with measures being implemented by the government under President Dr Samia Suluhu Hassan to improve services and reduce the time required to complete business procedures compared with the past.

He said the concerns and recommendations raised by traders had been recorded by the ministry and would be addressed in collaboration with relevant stakeholders.

Mr Londo said the government would continue working with the private sector and public institutions to remove bottlenecks and improve the efficiency of cross-border trade.

He said stronger cooperation among agencies operating at Namanga would remain important in ensuring traders receive timely and efficient services while supporting the country’s wider trade and economic development objectives.