The Agency adopts to changes through its Strategic Plan. The KenTrade 4th Strategic Plan (2023/24-2027/28) is the means in which the Agency plans to deliver the future of Trade Facilitation. The tagline for the Strategy is ‘Trade Made Simple’
It is also the Change Strategy for Kenya Trade Network Agency (KenTrade) that describes the future state desired by stakeholders impacted by trade facilitation initiatives.
From a continuous approach to change, the ‘Trade Made Simple’ approach is the fourth strategy in a series of implementation of changes targeting the trade facilitation environment. It consolidates gains from previous strategies implemented by the Agency since its formation in the year 2010.
The Corporate Vision for the Agency is a ‘A global leader in Trade Facilitation’. The implementation of initiatives under ‘Trade Made Simple’ especially a robust capability of the National Electronic Single Window System (NESWS) described as “User friendly system –incorporating all systems in the trade logistics chain and allows for the use of big data in decision making’ is the main means in which the Agency has chosen to realise its vision.
To incorporate all systems in the trade logistics chain, KenTrade has committed to bring onboard all government agencies involved in cargo clearance process on the NESWS and provide real time data on performance to aid decision making. By doing so the country stands to gain from the costs savings associated with the enhanced efficiency and ensure compliance with provisions of article 7.1 of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Trade facilitation Agreement (TFA).
Under the ‘Trade Made Simple’ tagline, the following Key Result Areas (KRAs) are to be achieved.
- Ease of doing business
‘Trade Made Simple’ as a Change Programme
The Trade Made Simple as a Change Programme incorporates changes in key organisation elements such as Processes, Systems, Tools, Job Roles, Critical Behaviours, Mindsets/Attitudes/Beliefs, Reporting Structures, Performance Reviews, Compensation and Location. To implement the proposed changes, the Agency has developed a Change Management Strategy detailing how the key organisation elements are to align with the five year Strategy of the Organisation.
- Change in processes:
Processes refer to the actions or steps taken to achieve a defined end or outcome. Under The ‘Trade Made Simple’, processes involved in the import and export of various are expected to undergo changes in line with the Business Process Re-engineering (BPR) function of the Agency.
The scope involves.
- Simplification of import and export processes for the following Agencies: Scrap Metal Council (SMC), Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Kenya Forest Service (KFS) and Kenya Civil Aviation Authority (KCAA)
- Simplification of the tax and duty exemption processes such as Letter Based Exemptions, Diplomatic Community and Projects Master Lists
- Change in Systems
Systems refers to a combination of people and automated applications organized to meet a set of objectives. To make trade simple, there are changes required in the automated systems as well as regulatory systems to organise people around the working involving the automated systems.
The scope involves:
- The ICT based systems include:
- Technology Upgrade of NESWS from TradeNet to Trade Facilitation Platform (TFP).
- Development of Maritime Single Window System (MSW)
- Enterprise Resource Management (ERP)
- Implementation of advanced Customer Relationship Management System
- Implementation of Regulatory Systems, specifically the NESWS Act and Regulations governing data protection, the use of the NESWS and its monetization. The second aspect involves the internal policies of the Agency.
- Change in Tools
Tools refers to items or implements used for a specific purpose; can be a physical object such as mechanical tools or a technical object such as a web authoring tool or software program. For Trade Made Simple to be attained, the following tools are required.
The scope involves
- Tools such as Computers and Internet to facilitate lodgement of documents and approval of documents in the system
- Business Intelligence (BI) as a parasitic tool embedded in TFP is now possible. The Business Intelligence, Data Warehouse and Integration Layer (BIDWIL) is a new capability available for users of TFP.
- Change in Job Roles
Job role is a description of what a person does including competencies essential to performing well in that job capacity. For Trade Made Simple, there are changes expected in what a person does and the competencies expected.
The scope involves:
- Data Management Roles: Data Analysis roles in all PGAs to become self-reliant in data management
- ICT based roles: The system management roles in the PGAs involved
- Change in Critical Behaviours
This refers to the vital or essential response of an individual or group to an action, environment, person or stimulus. The Trade Made Simple requires vital and essential behaviors from actors and users of various capabilities.
The scope involves:
- Management change leadership and sponsorship- change has become a constant in trade facilitation environment.
- Users of NESWS in line with NESWS Act and Regulations.
- Change in Mindsets/Attitudes/Beliefs
This refers to the mental inclination, disposition or frame of mind reflected in behaviours. The Trade Made Simple requires the following inclination
- Shift from siloed approach to one-government approach in compliance to requirements of international trade
- Shift from reliance on KenTrade for trade related statistics towards self-reliance.
- Shift from Free Service to paid up service in the use of NESWS
- Change in Reporting Structures
This refers to the authority relationships in a company or organization, who reports to whom. The Trade Made Simple requires a shift in reporting structures in various areas of concern under Trade Facilitation roles
- Internal reorganisation of structures within the Agency in line with the Change Strategy
- Compliance to Mombasa Port and Northern Corridor Community Charter (MPNCCC) reporting structures
- Arrangements for Change Agent Network (CAN) to report progress with KenTrade on implementation of Change Management Strategy and Workplan and progress monitoring.
- Change in Performance Reviews
This refers to the process and indicators of how performance is measured and assessed relative to objectives. The Trade Made Simple requires Employee Engagement and Customer Satisfaction among stakeholders utilising the NESWS
The scope involves:
- Implementation and compliance to Service Level Agreements (SLAs) between the Agency and its partners upon which BI is a key enabler becoming the single source of truth in trade facilitation processes.
- The progress reports from Change Management Workplans
- Change in Compensation
This refers to the amount of the monetary and non-monetary pay provided in return for work performed. There is an impact expected in compensation given the scope of ‘Trade Made Simple’ initiatives.
The scope involves:
- Implementation of the NESWS Act and Regulation that has a cost implication for USD 10 for Unique Consignment Reference (UCR) number and USD 80 for Impending Arrival Report (IAR).
- Purchase of BI licences by users of NESWS to access BI data.
- Change in Location
This refers to a physical geographical place that provides facilities for a stated purpose. There is an impact expected in Location given the scope of ‘Trade Made Simple’ initiatives.
The scope involves:
- Hybrid working arrangements arising from Internal Policies as well as the enabling digital environments from ERP, CRM
- Physical Office locations for KenTrade Offices in the Mombasa Region
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