Firm unveils cost-cutting scheme for cross-border traders

scheme requires cross-border traders to form groups of 10 people in the same line of trade or business, and each group will nominate a representative that will travel abroad to source goods on the group’s behalf, thereby reducing travelling costs.
Happy Travellers managing director Ms Beaullah Mudumi told delegates at a workshop organised by the travel agency last week that the scheme will help boost the cross-border traders who are currently burdened by excessive import duty and travelling costs.
“Cross-border traders have indicated that buying goods directly from markets such as China and Dubai is cheaper, however, it has turned out to be expensive to bring these goods into the country.
“This scheme aims to address these high-cost problems,” she said.
According to Ms Mudumi, the company is offering each group representative discounted rates for the trip.
Ms Mudumi – who is a cross-border trader herself – said the workshop was targeted at enlightening cross-border traders on how to budget since most were incurring losses.
“Cross-border traders should play a critical role in contributing to the growth of the economy, but in this respect there is need to ensure that our systems allow for profitability,” said Ms Mudumi.
She also urged women in the business to come together and increase the quantity of goods that they import in order to compete with foreigners such as Nigerians, who are operating in the country.
“There is need to ensure that we make our businesses viable. We need to shift from being mere importers, but to become producers who can export to other markets,” she said.
The Happy Travellers travel workshop was meant to boost micro-enterprise businesses through enhancement of their importing/exporting capabilities, addressing barriers to cross-border trade, investigating opportunities offered by new technologies and encouraging new market and new product development.