Exchange Notes signing for Grant Assistance Project “Enhancing Trade Facilitation and Border Control Capacity in East Africa”
2019/11/1
On Friday, 1st November, 2019 H.E. Mr. Ryoichi Horie, Ambassador of Japan to Kenya and Mr. Rainer Frauenfeld, Director, UNOPS Kenya Multi Country Office signed the Exchange of Notes (E/N) for the Grant Assistance Project “Enhancing Trade Facilitation and Border Control Capacity in East Africa“.
The Government of Japan funded the JPY 351 million (approximately KHS 335 million) project for the purpose of providing equipment such as X-ray baggage scanners, patrol boats and vehicles for the five EAC countries - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda in order to strengthen the function of facilitating trade across these countries, appropriating customs clearance and preventing illegal imports and exports.
In his remarks, Ambassador Horie said that the Government of Japan has been supporting the One Stop Border Post projects since 2007 through JICA. “I want to contribute as much as possible to the acceleration of economic development in the EAC region, led by Kenya, This project will counter international organised crimes, supply-chain insecurity, and the increasing global threats of terrorism at EAC borders”, he explained.
Mr. Rainer Frauenfeld, Director of UNOPS Kenya Multi Country Office stressed that there remains a lack of inspection and surveillance equipment at border control facilities, with the support and expertise of JICA, this project would pave the way for the necessary further enhancements to obtaining efficient and effective border control.
In addition, Major (Rtd) Samuel Muraya Kariuki, Deputy Commissioner, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) who participated as an observer, expressed great appreciation for the many years of support from Japan to EAC's efforts in taking countermeasures against terrorism.
The Government of Japan funded the JPY 351 million (approximately KHS 335 million) project for the purpose of providing equipment such as X-ray baggage scanners, patrol boats and vehicles for the five EAC countries - Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda in order to strengthen the function of facilitating trade across these countries, appropriating customs clearance and preventing illegal imports and exports.
In his remarks, Ambassador Horie said that the Government of Japan has been supporting the One Stop Border Post projects since 2007 through JICA. “I want to contribute as much as possible to the acceleration of economic development in the EAC region, led by Kenya, This project will counter international organised crimes, supply-chain insecurity, and the increasing global threats of terrorism at EAC borders”, he explained.
Mr. Rainer Frauenfeld, Director of UNOPS Kenya Multi Country Office stressed that there remains a lack of inspection and surveillance equipment at border control facilities, with the support and expertise of JICA, this project would pave the way for the necessary further enhancements to obtaining efficient and effective border control.
In addition, Major (Rtd) Samuel Muraya Kariuki, Deputy Commissioner, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) who participated as an observer, expressed great appreciation for the many years of support from Japan to EAC's efforts in taking countermeasures against terrorism.