Works on Rusumo One-Stop-Border-Post set to begin

Local and regional traders using the Rusumo border post along the Rwanda-Tanzanian border will no longer spend much time once the construction of the One Stop Border Post (OSBP) is complete. According to the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of East African Community (EAC), Amb. William Kayonga, construction works are due to begin anytime now as all equipment is already in place. The OSBP consists of three phases; including the construction of Rusumo international bridge, building of a new two kilometre road between the border facilities and putting up the actual OSBP facilities. The project is funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency JICA It is expected to be complete November 2014 at a cost of about Frw 29.7 billion (Japanese Yen 3.7 billion). Under the OSBP, services would be harmonised with incoming traffic jointly cleared by officers from both countries from one side of the border and vice-versa for the outgoing ones. The move is also expected to ease the movement of people.Kayonga observed that the construction of the one border post is a means to address the issue of trade barriers and facilitate free movement of people as stipulated in the EAC treaty.“It will benefit EAC in trade facilitation with less border procedures and faster clearance by better border facilities for trucks from both countries and travellers,” Kayonga pointed out.One of the challenges facing regional traders is the issue of delays at border posts because government agencies work autonomously hence the need for harmonisation of their operations. Some of the state agencies normally based at border posts are immigration, Rwandan Revenue Authority, the Police, and Rwanda Bureau of Standards, among others.The Director of Infrastructure in the EAC ministry , Jean de Dieu Ndacyayisenga, pointed out that Rusumo OSBP is the only border facility constructed under the EAC framework, adding that similar projects would be undertaken at Kagitumba, Gatuna and Cyanika border posts all of which border Uganda. Recently in Kigali, Theo Lyimo, TradeMark East Africa’s Director of Integrated Border Management and One Stop Border Post, advised member countries to employ a single border management system to reduce delays.“The integrated border management should have a system of controlling all the agencies at the borders. This will help eliminate trade challenges affecting the region, including high prices of products, high costs of transport and others,” he noted.

National

Works on Rusumo One-Stop-Border-Post set to begin