Rwanda, Burundi sign pact to facilitate cross border trade

Rwanda has signed a bilateral agreement with Burundi to establish a one-stop border post at Gasenyi 1/ Nemba.

The move is expected to bolster trade across the two countries by harmonizing border control regulations and procedures and enabling expeditious and more effective border control mechanisms.

According to the agreement, the two countries will also maximize the use of Information and Communication Technologies in order to enhance the easier and speedier sharing of border control data that is useful in border operations.

The implementation of the bilateral agreement will see the two countries conduct joint technical training for border control officers so as to achieve common levels of conceptual understanding of the one stop border post (OSBP) operations.

“The establishment of One Stop Border Post will enhance expeditious and effective border control since the number of stops has been reduced by combining border control activities at a single location.

It will also reduce the time taken by cross border traders to clear their goods as there will be no repetition of processes at either customs offices,” said Ben Kagarama, the Commissioner General, Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA).

The agreement will also enable the two revenue authorities to achieve maximum possible integration of border control documentation, procedures and systems for the mutual success of the objectives underpinning this Agreement.

“This border post will result into increased cross border trade and profitability thus increase in revenue collection of the two countries,” Mr Kagarama said.

However, the border post lacks of accommodation facilities with revenue officials living approximately 3.5 kilometers away from the border.

“This has in one way or the other disrupted service delivery,” Mr Kagarama said, urging respective governments to step up investment into the necessary physical infrastructure to facilitate the business community using the border post.