REDUCED IMPORT DUTY COLLECTIONS - TRA blames EAC,SADC preferential treatment

TANEXA wishes to refer to on article  entitled “REDUCED IMPORT DUTY COLLECTIONS-TRA  blames EAC,SADC preferential treatment –by Mohamed Kazingumbe” that appeared in the BUSINESS TIMES –ISSN 0856-2814 No 1315 dated Friday November  22-28,2013.

The  many  factors identified by TRA  as causes of decline of revenue collection  which included EAC,SADC preferential treatment trade arrangement do not touch on the issues.As far as  TANEXA is concerned  and  according to findings by TANEXA, especially at Mutukula border and Mwanza Port together with other  entry points,it has been established that  most members  of the business community complain that complying with extant tax obligations is a hard  nut to crack.It is time –consuming ,complicated and the tax rules are ever changing.Even the forms are in English language and and  with too many attachments.The processes is  also complicated and getting responses on enquiries and  clarifications  takes too much time.Furthemore the lack of informative materials as well as inconstant  application of  rules  and regulations by different local authorities  and others is another drawback.

For example ,at Mutukula border there are  more than (8) eight  barriers to be complied with  while at the Port of Mwanza,there are more than 13 barriers that require the exporter to clear before one reaches the vessel to load and exports the goods.At the Tanzania Food and  Agriculture Authority  Desk,there  are twelve or more requirements to clear before an importer is allowed to import.

As a result these regulations are restrictions to export and import promotion  since they go against “best –trade-practices on trade transactions.”

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Tanzania na Kenya zatiliana sahihi mkataba wa kurahisisha biashara mipakani

Mawaziri wa jumuiya ya Afrika Mashariki wa Kenya Musa Slima na wa Tanzania Samweli Sitta wakitoka kwenye ofisi ya DC Taveta kuhudhuria mkutano wa hadhara uliofanyika Taveta Kenya na kuhudhuliwa na wananchi

wa Tanzania na Kenya.

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Serikali za Tanzania na Kenya zimetangaza hatua kadhaa za kuwawezesha wafanyabiashara wadogo wa mipakani mwa nchi hizo kuingia katika nchi nyingine kufanya biashara bila hati ya kusafiria na wakuu wa wilaya za mipakani wameagizwa kukaa pamoja na kuandaa utaratibu utakaotumika. 

 Makubaliano hayo yamefikiwa katika wilaya ya Taveta nchini kenya na kusainiwa na mawaziri wa jumuia ya afrika mashariki Bw Samwel Sita wa Tanzania na Musa Srima wa Kenya mbele ya wananchi wa pande zote hizo katika mkutano wa hadhara ambao viongozi hao walitoa ufafanuzi juu ya hatua hizo. 

 Waziri Sita amezitaja baadhi ya hatua hizo kuwa na fomu maalum za kuwatambulisha wafanyabiashara hao kufanya biashara zao katika masoko ya jirani yaliyo ndani ya umbali wa kilomita 20 kati ya nchi na nchi wakiwemo waendesha pikipiki. Akitoa ufafanuzi waziri Srima amesema, katika makubaliano hayo maafisa forodha wa pande zote wametakiwa kutoa elimu ya kutosha kwa wafanyabiashara wakubwa ya namna uvushaji na ulipaji wa ushuru wa bidhaa zao na kuangalia uwezekano wa kufanya kazi kwa saa 24 wa idara zzote zikiwemo za uhamiaji.

Chanzo:Picha na Habari na Dixon Busagaga 

wa Globu ya Jamii, Moshi.

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INTRODUCING THE TANEXA BLOG

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER’S WORD

Welcome to this newly established TANZANIA EXPORTERS ASSOCIATION (TANEXA) Blog.

TANEXA was established in 1994, under the Government’s Societies Ordinance, as a private independent, self-financed, not-for-profit, Apex Association. It serves as a connecting bridge between local exporters, both private and public and the markets outside Tanzania. TANEXA cuts across exporters of varying status and size, large and small. It coordinates the export industry in Tanzania and this encourages exporters to optimize on export business opportunities that are abundant. However, the opportunities are sometimes missed due to inadequate capacity as well as other challenges which arise from policy and operational gaps. TANEXA also offers technical and market information as well as knowledge sharing concerning the best export trade practices. TANEXA’s Membership is drawn from representation of multi-sectors including agriculture- farm produce and fresh produce-; manufacturing; mining as well as services.

TANEXA’S OBJECTIVES
TANEXA’s main objectives include the following: - namely;

(i) To enable members optimize on opportunities in the foreign market obtained in the East African Community (EAC); Southern African Development Community (SADC); Africa, Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA); other multilateral and bilateral arrangements as well as emerging opportunities.

(ii) To lobby for a conducive foreign trade business environment in respect of cross cutting sectoral export development policy issues; regulations; taxes and elimination of other export /trade barriers.

(iii) To create a strong and a thriving TANEXA membership. This necessitates collaboration with established or new Farm Associations; Primary Societies; Agricultural Marketing Co-operative Organizations (AMCOS) such as the Association of Kilombero High Quality Rice Growers (AKILIGO) and the Association of Mbeya High Quality Rice Growers (AMBELIGO).

(iv) To strengthen TANEXA to be an effective implementer of its mandate. In this connection, TANEXA has already established four TANEXA Branches, namely;

(a) Mutukula at the Tanzania border with Uganda to serve Uganda, Rwanda, Southern Sudan and Democratic Republic of Congo.

(b) Sirari at the Tanzania border with Kenya to serve Kenya, Somalia and Southern Sudan.

(c) Mwanza Port to serve the border ports of Kenya and Uganda on Lake Victoria; and

(d) Igunga Branch in Tabora

Other envisaged TANEXA Branches to be opened include:  Kigoma to serve the Tanzania border with Democratic Republic of Congo; the Mtambaswala Branch at the Tanzania border with Mozambique to serve Mozambique and finally the Tunduma Branch to serve Zambia; Malawi; Zimbabwe and DRC countries.

Indeed, TANEXA branches are catalysts to export creation awareness. They are formal entities which lobby and conduct Private-Public Sector dialogue on business trade issues at large.

TANEXA STRATEGY

In order to implement the above discussed objectives, TANEXA has formulated a Five Year Implementation Plan for the period 2014 to 2018. The implementation of the plan will require close collaboration with all key players in the country alongside with the Tanzania Embassies abroad in order to promote and develop Tanzania exports.TANEXA Vision:To be the leading foreign trade development facilitator for Tanzania Exports.                                        

TANEXA Mission: To enhance foreign trade development through capacity building and creation of an enabling environment for Tanzania business.

In conclusion, I wish to invite you to read this blog and contribute on any issues relating to promotion and development of Tanzania exports in the interest of our country.

Mr. Mtemi Lawrence Naluyaga

Executive Director

Tanzania Exporters Association

(TANEXA)

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