Weekly Grant activities 9-13th July 2012

FEAFFA participated in the week-long assessment, which highlighted the role of clearing and forwarding practitioners in facilitating or hampering trade at the border. The assessment focused on the functioning of the Joint Border Committees on either side of the border, with all agencies at the borders participating in the meetings. FEAFFA appreciated the exposure to border conditions and requested facilitation of more officials in future border events. A sensitization seminar for clearing agents on the FEAFFA Code of Conduct was organized by FEAFFA on 12th July 2012 at the Malaba border. Over 60 participants attended the seminar, with more than 50 being clearing and forwarding agents. The seminar focused on the rationale for an industry Code of Conduct, the minimum professional standards provided, and the discipline enforcement mechanism. The agents appreciated the seminar and requested extension of EACFFPC training facilities to the border to enable them to quickly professionalize through training. The FEAFFA e-portal audit was organized by the federation with a view to making the exercise more productive towards improving the information provided on the portal. A data collection tool that will be utilized across the region was reviewed. The exercise is expected to commence in late July and continue through August. The e-portal is a one-stop source of trade information from which traders are expected to access information on import and export of selected value chains within the region. Trademark East Africa supported the development of the portal. FEAFFA joined KIFWA in the launch of another EACFFPC class at the Kenya School of Revenue Administration in Nairobi. A total of 67 attended on the first day, with more expected to report in the course of the next two weeks. Other classes have commenced in Mombasa. The launch of the EACFFPC class is part of FEAFFA's efforts to promote professionalization and capacity building among clearing and forwarding practitioners in the region.