- KNCCI Mombasa chairman Mustafa Ramadhan called for strengthening of existing fundamentals that allow businesses to thrive.
- Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said that the county has been working closely with KNCCI to support business.
The business community in Mombasa has urged the county leadership to ensure a stable environment for trade. https://bit.ly/3V5wqsp
Image: JOHN CHESOLI
The business community in Mombasa has urged the county leadership to ensure a stable environment for trade.
Kenya National Chambers of Commerce and Industry Mombasa chapter said they need a pro-business environment, with strong rule of law, feedback channels that ensure that policies facilitate business operations, and regulatory sandboxes to allow business innovation.
They spoke during the 9th edition of the Mombasa Business Awards held on Friday night.
KNCCI Mombasa chairman Mustafa Ramadhan called for strengthening of existing fundamentals that allow businesses to thrive.
“We must also build new strengths to maintain our competitive edge. We need to establish Mombasa as a regional trusted hub for logistics as we revive our tourism sector to be at par with other regional destinations,” said Ramadhan.
Ramadhan emphasized the need to better harness technology, particularly digitalisation, which he said enables businesses to expand their markets and transcend their geographical constraints.
Digitalisation he said is transforming industries, cities and economies adding that the digital economy is now deeply intertwined with the conventional economy.
“We need to build globally competitive teams comprising local and global talent. Innovation flourishes best in teams with different skills and experiences.
“Even as we build our local talent pool, we need to remain open to global talent so that we can work with the global best and network with the world,” he said.
He reiterated that innovation is the currency of progress and that the circumstances in Mombasa require more creative solutions.
Ramadhan said as business people, they need to be enablers of disruptive thinking, risk-taking and innovation if they want to keep pace with the evolving global demands and trends.
“The 4th Industrial Revolution is forcing a change in the way we do business. Blockchain technology, artificial intelligence and biotechnology are the way of the future. These new technologies usher in the transformation of entire systems of production, management, and governance,” he said.
He added that if leveraged correctly, they can bring about fully digitalized and highly efficient sectors, able to fulfil the needs of an increasingly technologically literate population.
“An important feature of innovation is being unafraid of failure, being willing to try, fail and then try again. We must be prepared to go brave and go bold.”
Ahmed Farah, country director of Kenya Trademark East Africa, said that automating the services of key government trade agencies demonstrated how technology helps create resilient trading systems that can withstand shocks.
He gave an example of the Integrated Tea Trading System (iTTS) at the Mombasa Tea Auction which he said has aided uninterrupted trading of tea as the physical bourse closed.
“The automation of the ordinary certificates of origin issued by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry has made it easy for exporters to acquire this vital export document at the convince of their offices or homes,” Farah said.
He said that as TMEA, they have continued to support the Kenya Revenue Authority’s, integrated Customs Management System (iCMS) which enabled faster clearance processes for businesses at ports of entry.
iCMS, he said, integrates and harmonises customs processes into one system, consequently enhancing efficacy in customs and border control operations and reducing cargo clearance time by at least 60 per cent.
“Reducing cargo clearance time at the Port of Mombasa has received a boost through the construction of roads, the establishment of Service Level Agreements between port agencies, and the improvement of systems,” he said.
He added that TMEA will continue to support increased trade for job creation and improved livelihoods by reducing barriers to trade.
This he said will be done through infrastructure development, removal of non-tariff barriers, standards improvement and adoption of ICT for trade to increase efficiency and transparency.
“We are working with the Government of Kenya to develop its African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Strategy and a draft road map for enhancing the competitiveness of Kenyan firms. This will guide the country’s engagement in intra-Africa trade,” said Farah.
TMEA is currently supporting the county government of Mombasa to conduct a feasibility study of the proposed Miritini Special Economic Zone.
If done well, Farah says, the Miritini SEZs are a great vehicle for international trade and foreign direct investment to drive economic development.
“It will reassure investors and those exploring business in Mombasa County that the mitigation of risk can be reduced or eliminated,” he said.
Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said that the county has been working closely with KNCCI to support an enabling business environment in the county.
The governor in a previous meeting with KNCCI and other business stakeholders proposed to collapse all licenses into one as a way of encouraging the ease of doing business in Mombasa.
“There is a lot we are currently doing with the chambers to see how we can support businesses, we have been working together on a number of issues so we hope for good things to come,”
On Friday, the Mombasa County Assembly reconvened for a special sitting and passed the Mombasa County Finance Bill 2022.
The assembly also passed a motion allowing the county government to borrow funds approving draft facilities for early payment of salaries for county staff.
Shipping and Maritime Affairs PS Shadrack Mwadime called on members of the chamber to invest in the shipping industry saying that it is being reported as one of the smartest decisions an investor can make.