Related Information
History
In the 1960s, Member States trade experienced increased transport costs arising from surcharges imposed on the trade by the liner shipping operators. More specifically, trade was experiencing negative effects arising from the closure of the Suez Canal and the surcharges applied after its closure in mid 1960s.In realization of these challenges, and given the common interests which the regional states shared, the four Member States of Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia formed ISCOS in 1967 to perform on their behalf various functions such as negotiation on freight rates, fighting against unjustifiable surcharge and other charges on seaborne cargo. A Permanent Secretariat headed by a Secretary General was established in 1974 to coordinate ISCOS activities. In 1987, member states signed an agreement legally establishing the institution.
To date, ISCOS activities have expanded to take care of the changing patterns in world trade, especially the liberalization of regional economies, globalization, technological advancement, and other economic developments in global commerce. For this purpose in April, 2006 the protocol amending the 1987 agreement was signed to accommodate these new developments.
ISCOS members States
Kenya
Principal exports
Tea, Coffee, Horticulture, Raw Materials, Oil Products, Manufactured goods.
Principal imports
Manufactured Goods, Machinery and Transport Equipment, Oil, Chemicals.
Sea ports
Mombasa, Lamu and many other small ports
Language
English, Kiswahili and many local languages
Lake ports
Kisumu port in Lake Victoria
Currency
Kenyan Shilling
Tanzania
Lake ports
Lake Victoria: Mwanza, Bukoba, Kemondo Bay, Musoma, Nansio, Lake Tanganyika: Kigoma, Kasanga, Lake Nyasa: Itungi, Manda, Liuli, Mbaba Bay.
Sea ports
Dar Es Salaam, Tanga, Zanzibar, Mtwara and many other small ports
Principal exports
Coffee, Cotton, Manufactures, Cashew Nuts, Minerals
Language
English, Kiswahili and many local languages
Principal imports
Machinery and Transport Equipment, Consumer Goods
Currency
Tanzanian Shilling
Uganda
Principal imports
Manufactured goods, Machinery, Emquipments and Vehical/acessories, Oil/Oil products, Chemical Products, Food stuffs
Principal exports
Coffee, Tea, Fish, Tobacco, Flowers, Cotton, Gold, Cobalt, Oil re-export
Sea ports
Mainly shiping through Dar Essalam and Mombasa ports.
Language
English, Kiswahili and many local languages
Lake ports
Port Bell in Lake Victoria
Currency
Ugandan Shilling
Zambia
Principal imports
Capital goods, Chemical Products, Crude Oil, Petroleum Products
Principal exports
Cobalt, Copper, Cotton, Cut flowers, Electric Appliances, Hardwood, Mineral Product
Sea ports
Mainly shiping through Dar Essalam and Mombasa ports.
Principal exports
Cobalt, Copper, Cotton, Cut flowers, Electric Appliances, Hardwood, Mineral Product
Currency
Zambian Kwacha
Institutional Framework
The Assembly
The Assembly is the highest Organ of the Organization whose full Membership are the Ministers responsible for Maritime Transport in the Member States, or any other Ministers or Plenipotentiaries designated by the respective Governments.
The Assembly is responsible for formulating general policies of the Organization and determining appropriate ways and means by which the Organization can achieve its objectives.
The Co-ordination Committee
The Coordination Committee is constituted by Permanent/Principle Secretaries (or their equivalent) in Ministries responsible for Maritime Transport matters in the respective Member States or their designated representatives who are senior officers of Government.
The Mandate of the Coordination Committee is to Coordinate the activities and functions of the Technical Committees and prepare Technical and Administrative Reports for the Assembly.
Technical Committees
Technical Committees comprise officers from the Member States and Associate member organizations who are experts in the relevant field of the Committee. The Mandate of the Technical Committees to Review and Generate Administrative and Technical Programmes of the Organization and to prepare Reports for the Coordination Committee.
There are four technical committees:
- Technical Committee on Finance, Administration and Resource Mobilization;
- Technical Committee on Trade Facilitation;
- Technical Committee on Maritime Safety, Security and Marine Environment;
- Technical Committee on Legal, Membership and Credentials, and International Relations.
The Secretariat
The Secretariat is the Administrative Organ of the organization headed by the Secretary General appointed by the Assembly. Its mandate is to coordinate and implement programmes and activities of the Organization.
Secretary General
Appointed ISCOS Secretary General in January 2020, Mr. Daniel Mwanza Kiange took up the executive leadership of the region’s major Maritime body with over 24 years of experience in Trade Logistics, Shipping, Port Operations, and Medium and Top Management of the Maritime and Trade Logistics Sectors. With a combination of hands on experience from the private and public sector, Mr. Kiange possess vast knowledge and expertise in the development and implementation of Systems, Strategies and Polices.
Mr. Kiange has played key roles in the development and implementation of various Trade facilitation platforms and Systems in the region and has been part of several National and Regional and international undertakings and initiatives on Trade Facilitation and investment, Policy harmonization, Strategic planning and Management of Sea Ports and their extensions, Development and implementation of Key performance Indicators (KPIs) in the Maritime Sector, Regional economic integration and policy harmonization, as well as improvements in performance of Trade corridors of the region, among others. He has also played key roles in the understudying and Automation of various Shipping and Trade Logistics process and platforms in the region.
Mr. Kiange is a holder of a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of Nairobi and a Certified Internal Systems Auditor (CISA) from the Institute of information Systems Audit and Control Association (ISACA). He also holds a Prince 2 Practitioner Certificate in Project Management from APMG International Axelos, a Senior Management Certificate from the Kenya School of Government and Strategic Leadership Development Program (SLDP) from the same institution, and a Diploma in Port Operations from the ICSP in addition to several other academic and professional qualifications.
Vision Statement
Africa’s Centre of Excellence for Shipping and Maritime Matters.
Mission Statement
To Promote and Advocate for Efficient and Competitive Shipping and Maritime Services in Eastern, Central and Southern Africa.
Mandate
To facilitate international trade in shipping by:
- Promoting the development of maritime, inland water ways and other inter modal transport systems and practices; public and private sector investments; Efficient Logistics and competitive shipping services.
- Undertaking industry research, and strengthening and promoting the establishment of Shippers Councils through capacity building.
- Advocating for maritime safety, security, and environmental protection
- Advocating for policy harmonization and implementation of International and regional maritime agreements and conventions by members
Contact Us
INTERGOVERNMENTAL STANDING COMMITTEE ON SHIPPING
ISCOS Secretariat
Nyali,Off Links Road, near Nyali Health Care
P.O. Box 89112 – 80100
Mombasa, Kenya
+254 722 207940/ +254 202 332670
info@iscosafricashipping.org
www.iscosafricashipping.org