Use this form to register for the field visit to Kenya's Northern Corridor Initiative on Friday 19 June 2026, held as a side event to the DCED Global Seminar and organised by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, with its partner organisations. 

For full information on the visit and agenda, please see the promotional flyer. Note that side event is open to those participants accepted to the DCED Global Seminar (and/or Annual Meeting). Transport will be provided to participants and will leave from the DCED Global Seminar venue.

Historically, trade across East Africa has been slowed primarily by administrative barriers - extensive paperwork, procedural delays and disjointed systems - rather than by geographical challenges.

Through the Global Gateway, the Netherlands is supporting efforts by TradeMark Africa and its partners to modernise and speed-up how goods move across borders. Digital customs systems and real-time cargo tracking are replacing manual processes, cutting clearance times from days to under 24 hours in some cases.

The benefits extend beyond technical aspects. By speeding up trade and making it more predictable, costs decrease, competitiveness increases, and regional supply chains become sturdier and more dependable. The shift further indicates a broader movement toward comprehensive and rules-based trade frameworks. For the Netherlands and the EU, Global Gateway focuses on both building sustainable, transparent, and interoperable infrastructure and investing in systems that lower uncertainty and connect markets efficiently.

As stakeholders convene in Nairobi, Kenya for the DCED Annual Meeting and Global Seminar 2026, these shifts will be in focus; highlighting how more efficient trade systems can underpin stronger, more resilient economies.

This field visit to the Kenya Revenue Authority headquarters will provide an overview of the customs digitization initiatives supported by TradeMark Africa, including the Integrated Customs Management System (iCMS), Regional Electronic Cargo Tracking System (RECTS), and cargo scanning and image analysis. It will include a demonstration of the RECTS national dashboard and the national scanning management dashboard. These digitization efforts have contributed to significant reductions in the time and cost of trade for both imports and exports, including cargo transported by rail and sea freight.