Regional electronic cargo tracking system to improvise East African trade

July 19, 2019: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Uganda have recently signed the regional electronic cargo tracking system (RECTS) standard operating procedures, TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) has revealed.

According to TMEA, it will decrease transit costs by reducing longer transit times caused by physical checks.

Tracking will be done through an online platform monitored by control centres in the four countries in which the system operates - Uganda, Rwanda, Kenya, and DRC.

"The system will also reduce the risk of freight diversion between the place of origin and checkpoints." RECTS would effectively combat fraud and increase the country's tax revenues, TMEA noted.

Importers, transporters and revenue authorities will have access to this information in addition to Rapid Response Units who will be stationed along the northern corridor.