Travelling in the COMESA region - Kenya
- Kenya
- Resources
- Market Information
- Cross Border Trade
- Cross Border Trade
Quick information guide
Incentives for cross border trade:
Between EAC Partner States
- Tariff and Non-Tariff Barriers to trade are continuously being eliminated, making cross border trade easier;
- Re-exports are exempted from the payment of import or export duties;
- The East African Community (EAC) Common Market Protocol facilitates the free movement of people and factors of production;
- Trade information and documentation has been by simplified, standardized and harmonized to facilitate trade in goods;
- Price and demand factors for goods and services across border
Between COMESA Member States
- Establishment of Free Trade Area has facilitated:
- Reduction of tariff and non-tariff barriers;
- Liberalisation of import licensing;
- Removal of foreign exchange restrictions;
- Import and export quotas;
- Easing of customs formalities;
- Creation of one-stop border posts;etc
- COMESA virtual trade facilitation, an online system that integrates other COMESA trade facilitation instruments in one platform. It also helps to monitor consignments along different transport corridors across the region. Read more
- Trade information and documentation has been simplified, standardized and harmonized to facilitate trade;
- Price and demand factors for goods and services across borders
Contacts
Ministry of Interior and Coordination of National Government
Department of Immigration Services Nyayo House 20th floor,
Kenyatta Avenue/Uhuru Highway
P.O Box 30395 – 00100 Nairobi.
Tel: +254 20 2222022
Email: dis@immigration.go.ke
Cross border trade information
Cross-border trade is a major feature of African economic and social landscapes that allows vulnerable populations to reconnect with the world and access goods and services that are key for their economic and social recovery.
It is often dominated by women who trade in agricultural and livestock products therefore creating employment and supporting livelihoods.
“Traders generally exchange small quantities of modest value, due to a variety of constraints including limited financing, poor-quality inputs, low capacity, lack of machinery, and inefficient marketing and distribution channels, among others”. Read more
Information on export quality and standards
The buyer provides the standard requirements and the exporter should ensure that products comply
Business opportunities that exist for Cross Border Traders in Kenya
Opportunities exist for both exports and imports
Choosing how to travel to EAC Partner States from Kenya and documents needed
While using air or road, EAC citizens can use passport or ID when non-EAC will need passport and visa
Travelling in the COMESA region
- Since the adoption of the COMESA Free Movement Protocol nationals of the following member states are eligible for a 90-day visa access and that can be issued on arrival:Kenya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Swaziland, Seychelles, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
- The following countries have since waived visas to all COMESA citizens: Seychelles, Mauritius and Rwanda.
- Zambia has waived visas and visa fees for all COMESA nationals on official business.
- The following countries only grant visas from their embassies and do not grant visas on arrival for COMESA citizens: Egypt, Libya, Ethiopia, DR Congo, Sudan and Eritrea. Read more
Agreement Establishing the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD)
The Aims and Objectives of IGAD