Manufacturers yesterday unveiled new standards to enhance efficiency and accountability at ports and border points hoping to enhance ease of doing business.

The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) developed by the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM) seek to ensure efficient entry procedures to facilitate trade and also enhance the fight against illicit trade.

Cabinet Secretary for Industrialisation, Trade and Enterprise Development Betty Maina said during the unveiling of the procedures  that illicit trade poses a great threat to the realisation of the Government’s Big Four agenda.

“Our ports and other points of entry play a fundamental role in facilitating global trade.

The development of these SOPs is, therefore, an integral part of a successful quality system. 

They will provide information to perform a job properly and consistently to achieve pre-determined specification and a quality end result,” said Ms Maina.

KAM chair Mucai Kunyiha said the enhanced public and private sector partnerships will boost the fight against illicit trade in Kenya.

Harmonised standards

“The lack of harmonised Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) emerged as a major bottleneck in the execution of various anti-illicit trade enforcement operations in the country. 

These SOPs will help increase efficiency and accountability at the ports of entry whilst cutting down on costs and time involved in the importation process,” he said.

The SOPs will also provide a one-stop reference for all government agencies tasked with ensuring efficiency and accountability in the inspection, verification, and clearance of imported cargo at the port and other points of entry in Kenya.