What Kenya can learn as China's Xiamen cuts customs clearance time by 30%
The Chinese port city of Xiamen has successfully reduced customs clearance times by 30% through digital and regulatory reforms. The article suggests that Kenya could adopt similar strategies to improve its logistics and trade competitiveness in East Africa.
Why it matters
Efficient customs procedures are vital for developing nations looking to integrate into global trade networks and reduce the cost of doing business.
Xiamen crossborder e-commerce industrial park and Chinese-made EVs being shipped from Xiamen Port. Xiamen cross-border e-commerce industrial park and Chinese-made EVs being shipped from Xiamen Port. A container terminal at Xiamen port, China. As the country races to position itself as East Africa's logistics and trade hub, the experience of China's port city of Xiamen offers valuable lessons. It is good ground to learn how technology, regulatory reforms and smarter customs procedures can greatly reduce the cost of doing business.
Xiamen has reported a 30 per cent reduction in customs clearance time after rolling out a series of reforms geared to speed up cross-border trade, lower logistics costs and make exports more competitive.
The Chinese city has been selected for the fifth consecutive year as one of the country's pilot cities implementing the 2026 Cross-Border Trade Facilitation Initiative.
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