Freight forwarders within East Africa have launched a code of conduct that will help regulate the industry and enhance professionalism, compliance and reduce corruption at border points. The freighters, under the Federation of East African Freight Forwarders Associations (FEAFFA) unveiled a simplified code of conduct aimed at entrenching integrity among clearing and forwarding professionals in the region. The simplified version is a comical presentation of the detailed code of conduct that was launched in Nairobi in July 2011 by the then Minister for East Africa Cooperation of the Republic of Kenya Prof Helen Sambili. The simplified version is available in three key languages including English, Swahili and French for easy consumption of the industry players.
“An important part of this code of conduct is to raise awareness within the freight forwarding industry, the public sector and the general public of the need for professional behaviour while at work,” John Mathenge, Regional Executive Officer, FEAFFA said during the launch held at Malaba border post in Uganda. “This will help the industry eliminate corruption as those found engaging in it will be deregistered.” EAC member countries are seeking to professionalize the freight and logistics industry considering that 50 per cent of the cost component of most goods is made up of transport costs within the region.
“The EAC Common Market protocol that allows free movement of goods and persons in the region, necessitates a strict code of conduct in the freight industry to reduce incidences of corruption,” he said.The FEAFFA code of conduct highlights the ethical standards expected of all operators in the region.
“Our code of conduct will help promote trusted partnership with Government agencies and other stakeholders,” Jennifer Mwijikye, a representative of the Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA) said during the launch held at Port Spring Villa at Malaba in Uganda.
She said its strict enforcement will help the industry shed its image, which in the past has been maligned by Government agencies as promoting corruption.
Aimed at helping the body of freighters into becoming a self-sustaining regional business association, the development of code of conduct was funded by the USAID to the tune of Sh22 million through its Competitiveness and Trade Expansion (COMPETE) Program.
Under this program, FEAFFA has already trained over 1,500 freight and logistics clearing and forwarding agents who have earned the East Africa Customs Freight Forwarding Practicing Certificate (EACFFPC). The target is train 5,000 agents by 2013.
There are about 3,000 freight and logistics forms in the East Africa Community (EAC) with thousands of employees. But they have been singled out by various players are unprofessional and corrupt tendencies, a perception FEAFFA is out to correct.
The border event was supported by USAID COMPETE and graced by among others representatives of the Commissioners of Customs of Uganda Revenue Authority Mr. Geoffrey Balamaga and Kenya Revenue Authority Mr. John Kihara, a representative of USAID Mr. Nzuki Mwania. Uganda Freight Forwarders Association (UFFA) and Kenya International Freight and Warehousing Association (KIFWA) organized the function.
