KIGALI, Rwanda – A UK-funded cargo tracking system is transforming trade in East Africa, reducing transit times, cutting costs, and enhancing safety for goods and drivers across the region.
The Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) has been spotlighted in the flagship Trade Facilitation Report 2024, unveiled during TradeMark Africa’s Trade Development Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.
The event, attended by prominent leaders including Rwanda’s Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, highlighted RECTS as a model for advancing regional trade.
The system, which monitors goods in transit, has slashed transportation times between the Kenyan port city of Mombasa and Uganda’s capital, Kampala, from 21 days to just 4–5 days.
This efficiency boost has saved over $1 million in escort costs for 20,000 consignments, further underscoring its economic impact.
Beyond cost savings, RECTS enhances security by ensuring cargo integrity, reducing the risk of theft, and streamlining border crossings.
Officials praised the initiative as a catalyst for regional growth, fostering economic cooperation and making East Africa a more competitive trade hub.
This innovation aligns with the UK’s broader goals of promoting sustainable economic development through trade facilitation.
The Trade Development Forum highlighted the success of RECTS as part of a broader agenda to expand trade infrastructure and connectivity across Africa.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that such systems could be replicated elsewhere to further unlock the continent’s trade potential.
The Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS) has been spotlighted in the flagship Trade Facilitation Report 2024, unveiled during TradeMark Africa’s Trade Development Forum in Kigali, Rwanda.
The event, attended by prominent leaders including Rwanda’s Prime Minister Edouard Ngirente and former Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn Boshe, highlighted RECTS as a model for advancing regional trade.
The system, which monitors goods in transit, has slashed transportation times between the Kenyan port city of Mombasa and Uganda’s capital, Kampala, from 21 days to just 4–5 days.
This efficiency boost has saved over $1 million in escort costs for 20,000 consignments, further underscoring its economic impact.
Beyond cost savings, RECTS enhances security by ensuring cargo integrity, reducing the risk of theft, and streamlining border crossings.
Officials praised the initiative as a catalyst for regional growth, fostering economic cooperation and making East Africa a more competitive trade hub.
This innovation aligns with the UK’s broader goals of promoting sustainable economic development through trade facilitation.
The Trade Development Forum highlighted the success of RECTS as part of a broader agenda to expand trade infrastructure and connectivity across Africa.
Stakeholders expressed optimism that such systems could be replicated elsewhere to further unlock the continent’s trade potential.
