Academics
PUBLIC LECTURE ON EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
This Wednesday, 3rd March2010, the Regional Integration Advisor in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation gave a presentation to Kigali Health Institute on East Africa Community Customer Union and Common Market.
In his presentation he detailed stages of integration in East Africa Community and what they mean. These stages include customs union, common market, monetary union and Political Federation. The presentation was focused on customs union and common market. Explaining the advantages of common market, he said that it is going to facilitate the free movement of goods, services, capital, workers, cooperation, and persons.
“Each partner state identified categories of people who will be allowed to move. For example, in Rwanda senior officials, professionals and Technicians and associate professionals will be allowed the free movement to offer the services in the member states of East Africa Community. They will be granted the freedom of entry, free movement, stay, protection. So far the services agreed upon by the member states of EAC for free movements are business distribution services, tourism and travel related services, financial services, and communication, transport and education services.”
Among the rights and freedom specified by the signed protocol include:
-Concluding the contract ad take up employment in accordance with the contracts, national laws and administrative actions
-Freedom of association
-Stay in the territory of partner state
-Enjoy rights and benefits of social security as accorded to the workers of the host state
Sebahizi further revealed that the basis for residence include a work permit or residence permit or a dependant’s pass which grants to the holder a stay of 6 months and beyond. He however highlighted some of the limitations of free movement. The free movement is in mostly in private sector. In addition, limitations imposed by the host partner state on grounds of public policy, public security and public health are among the things that can limit the free movement.
Integrating Rwanda in EAC has encouraged investments and improved business.
This is reflected through price convergence, affordable and better goods and services, bringing down the cost of transport, wider market attracting investors, optimization of the distribution of the human resources within the community. However, there are still challenges as highlighted by Sebahizi. There is the stiff competition for local employees as a result of free movement of labor; foreign products may take toll on unprepared manufacturers with market widely open. There is also the inconsistent integration pace among partner state and challenges linked to the harmonization of national laws and policies.
Rwanda private sector is still weak. Among the questions asked by one of KHI students to know the benefits from EAC integration for the consumers if prices are still high, this official answered him that a number of factors influence on this raise of prices such as the exchange rate, monopoly, the rise of the price of the fuel among others. “Traders are enjoying the benefits of common market while consumers still wait.” Sebahizi noted.