Mombasa leadership has launched a charm offensive to woo traders from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) to use the Port of Mombasa.
According to the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA), the DRC is the third largest market in the Port of Mombasa, with a market share of 8.2 per cent.
Last year, in June, a DRC state-owned shipping line, Lignes Maritimes Congolaises, began operations at the port of Mombasa.
The Port of Mombasa is mostly used by traders in the Eastern part of DR Congo. The central sub-Saharan country has three maritime ports: Matadi, Banana, and Boma.
Jomvu Constituency MP Badi Twalib led a delegation of officials of the honorary consulate of DR Congo in Mombasa to meet with Governor Abdullswamad Nassir.
The legislator says the purpose of the meeting is to deepen integration and friendship with the country that last year joined the regional bloc, the East African Community (EAC).
Badi lauded KPA Managing Director Capt. William Ruto for enhancing port efficiency since he took up the reins of power.
He said in the past, cargo destined for Sudan and Uganda were given different periods compared to DR Congo, but Capt. Ruto has extended the grace period for DR Congo.
He stated that the new MD has endeavoured to fine-tune various policies to improve the ease of doing business in the Port of Mombasa.
“All the Congolese traders who in the past used to import through the Port of Mombasa should return since now the port is working in a very efficient way; it has modern equipment and expansive berths,” said Badi.
“Mombasa was the regional hub for cargo destined for Rwanda, Uganda, and Congo regions like Butembo, Beni, Buniya, Kivu, Kisangani, and Goma, all of which used to pass through the Port of Mombasa,” he added.
Badi encourages Kenyans to market the country’s ports to attract traders from the EAC and beyond.
“We had many people who used to work in the transit sector. It’s our responsibility as Kenyans to market our port to attract traders from the region,” he said, adding that DR Congo’s problems will now be solved quickly by the Mombasa consulate.
Badi thanked the Head of State for appointing his predecessor to be the facilitator of peace talks in the DR Congo.
DR Congo Mombasa Consular Kambale Mukokoma says they are keen to increase the volume of trade between the DR Congo and Kenya.
“If drivers face challenges on the roads while in transit to Congo, we will advocate for their rights,” he said, urging traders to use the Port of Mombasa.
By Sadik Hassan
