The government has announced plans to reposition the Northern Corridor to play a leading role in accelerating the growth of the country and other east African community countries.

Principal Secretary for State Department for East African Community Abdi Dubat (pictured) said the government is set to put in place a multi-agency coordination stream among competent authorities, agencies and other stakeholders to spur economic growth.

“Our ultimate goal is to ensure efficiency, attainment of a facilitative transport and transit corridor and a secure transport system that is not only predictable but also reliable, affable and effusive,” he told the Business Hub yesterday.

Business efficiency

Abdi explained that the government has already taken steps towards improving business efficiency in the corridor by reduction of roadblocks, initiation and operationalisation of Electronic Drivers’ and Cargo Tracking System (EDCTS) and adoption and the use of Virtual and Weighing-in-Motion Weighbridges.

He also explained that the process of diversifying transit corridors running from Mombasa to decongest the port and the Northern Corridor is on course.

“The need to connect the Corridor to the Lamu Port South Sudan and Ethiopia Transport Corridor (LAPSSET) has been our biggest goal because it will unlock the potentiality of this region as it will facilitate the seamless use of the two corridors and provide users with competing and equally efficient alternatives,” said Abdi.

He also announced plans to continue working with stakeholders to ensure that the Northern Corridor attains world class efficiency in the short term while simultaneously addressing any drawbacks that have impacted on its efficiency including delays at points of entry, cargo theft, procrastination and other malevolent externalities.