By Standard Reporter
Trade relations between Kenya and Tanzania are set to go a notch higher after President Jakaya Kikwete re-affirmed his country’s commitment to improved trade between the two countries.
Speaking at Brookside Dairy, Ruiru, where he laid the foundation stone for the firm’s dry milk complex, President Kikwete hailed the role of the private sector in job creation and contribution to the GDP East African economies.
“We are keen to strengthen bilateral relations between our nations for the common good of our people,” President Kikwete said.
Livestock Development minister, Mohammed Kuti, said the private sector had played an important role in actualising reforms in the dairy sector.
Also present were Kenya’s high commissioner to Tanzania, Mutinda Mutiso. Brookside Dairy executive chairman, Muhoho Kenyatta, decried the steep tariff regime, saying it was impeding growth of commerce.
Kenyatta called on countries in the region to harmonise regulatory procedures to offer a one-stop shop for businesses.
“Some of the challenges to free trade emanate from the different regulatory procedures adopted by each country,” Kenyatta said.
He thanked the Government of Tanzania for according Kenyan businessmen an opportunity to thrive in the country. Kenyatta said Brookside had set its eyes on the wider East African market as a source for its raw milk.
“Recently, we embarked on a programme to grow our milk volumes as we prepare for the commissioning of our powder plant. We are now set to venture into the wider East Africa region as a possible source for our raw milk,” he said.
