Trade facilitation was the topic of the day as the International Trade and Logistics Summit (ITLS 2025) kicked off in Mombasa, bringing together players from shipping, maritime, and logistics sectors across Africa and beyond.
The two-day summit, organized by the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce (KNCC) and the Kenya Freight Forwarders Association (KFFA) in partnership with Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and Mombasa County Government, set the stage for crucial dialogue under the theme “Innovating logistics, technology, sustainability, and collaboration for a resilient future.”
According to Mohammed Daghar, PS State Department for Transport, who presided over the opening of the summit, the government is committed to strengthening trade infrastructure by building an efficient, sustainable, and seamlessly connected transport and logistics system.
“We are putting up a Mombasa Special Economic Zone, a dream that has been lingering in the conversation of this nation for the last three to four years. That has already been unlocked. We also want to put up additional berths at the Port of Mombasa to ensure that logistics are seamless because if we don’t do that, there will be congestion in the port,” he said.
The PS also assured stakeholders that the government is focused on ensuring that non-tariff barriers, which have long hampered regional trade, are removed. He detailed substantial infrastructure investments, particularly highlighting how Mombasa has benefited from crucial road network improvements designed to enhance connectivity along both the northern and southern corridors.
Looking beyond the coastal region, he further revealed ambitious plans to extend the country’s railway network deeper into the region. PS Daghar announced that a new railway line is already in the pipeline, stretching from the Port of Lamu to Moyale and onward to Ethiopia, with additional connections planned to Nakodok and Nadapal to better serve South Sudan.
The KPA was also commended during the summit for its role in enhancing port performance and implementing initiatives to drive greater efficiency. “KPA remains a critical driver of the region’s economic growth and continues to enhance trade facilitation and competitiveness,” PS Daghar said.
