A Sh 30.6million Safe Trade Zone market is set to be constructed in Busia County. This follows a collaboration between Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) with the State Department for East Africa and the County Government of Busia for the project which is set to cushion traders from Covid-19.
East African Affairs Principal Secretary Dr. Kevit broke grounds on the project and said the government is committed to raise trade levels in the region from the current 15% to 60%.
โCross border traders are key to the region attaining the desired levels of inter-regional trade. As a government we are committed to build the capacity of cross border traders and facilitate them more. I thank Trade Mark East Africa and donors, the EU, Canada and Ireland for the Safe Trade Zones Project that is greatly supporting this agenda,โ said Dr. Kevit.
The market will have a capacity of 300 stalls that will accommodate traders whose businesses were interrupted by Covid-19 restrictions imposed by the Kenyan government to ensure social distance with a view to containing of the virus.
Strict compliance of health protocols
The facility will be constructed and managed in strict compliance of health protocols to ensure trade continues without the risk of Covid-19 transmissions to traders, customers and authorities operating within the markets.
The PS disclosed that the facility will be funded by a consortium of donors among them the development agencies of Canada, European Union, Netherlands and Ireland through regional trade agency, Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) and its construction is expected to take 4 months.
Trade Mark Country Director for Kenya Ahmed Farah reiterated that the Busia Safe Trade Zone would enable many small-scale traders to continue with their businesses in a safe and hygienic market that observes all Covid-19 protocols.
โWhereas the Covid-19 pandemic has greatly affected every segment of our economies, the impact among small-scale traders who have to physically carry out their trade has been disproportionate. The Safe Trade Zone we are launching today and other components of the Safe Trade Emergency Facility that we have been implementing are geared towards alleviating these interruptions,โ said Dr. Kevit.
