Traders operating within the North Rift Economic Bloc (NOREB) might soon have something to smile about following plans to harmonize trade tariffs that counties charge.
There have been concerns that the cost of doing business within the North Rift was too high due to numerous tariffs that they have to pay for each of the counties the product has to transit through.
But according to NOREB Chief Executive Officer Dominic Biwott, they have initiated a plan that will see the tariffs lowered or subsidized for traders operating within the region.
“We are working with counties to harmonize the tariffs. Traders pay a lot of fees from cess, advertisement, etc across North rift discouraging inter-county trade because all those charges make the cost of doing business go high,” said Biwott.
The NOREB boss noted that the numerous tariffs were hurting traders.
“We may not remove all tariffs but we intend to recommend a reduction or subsidy and in the end benefit our traders,” said the NOREB CEO.
One of the possible recommendations that the bloc will be recommending to the member counties is the need to allow a trader to pay tariffs to the devolved unit of origin and be allowed to operate and move products freely to other counties within the region.
NOREB is a regional economic caucus that brings together eight counties in the North Rift region in a pact that seeks to capitalize on the economies of scale in agriculture, trade, natural resources, sports tourism, wildlife, and its rich cultural heritage.
