DAR ES SALAAM, Jan. 7 (Xinhua) -- The East African Business Council (EABC) on Friday urged members states of the East African Community (EAC) to mutually recognize COVID-19 test and vaccination certificates to spur trade.
In a statement issued by its headquarters in Tanzanian safari capital of Arusha, the EABC said the newly introduced COVID-19 mandatory testing of truck drivers entering or transiting through Uganda highly hampered the smooth flow of cargo across the region.
The new measure mandated truck drivers to pay 30 U.S. dollars COVID-19 test each time they cross into Uganda, increasing the cost of doing business, said the statement.
According to the statement, this resulted in traffic pile-up at the border posts and increased turnaround times and demurrage charges.
The EABC also urged the EAC member states to embrace the Regional Electronic Cargo Driver Tracking System (RECDTS) to accommodate the emerging COVID-19 trends as it offers minimal disruptions to the private sector, especially the transport and logistics sector.
The statement said the EABC is committed to continue engaging the EAC via the technical working group and respective inter-ministerial teams to adopt and implement an EAC coordinated approach on COVID-19 measures, procedures and protocols.
Member states of the EAC are Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. ■