RWAMAGANA - Regional trade and investment has been boosted ever since the Common Market Protocol came into force in July, the Minister for the East African Community (EAC), Monica Mukaruriza, said yesterday.

Meeting hundreds of executive secretaries from all sectors in the Eastern Province, the minister highlighted the merits of the common market which include free movement of goods, labour, services and capital.

Noting that the common market is expected to make the region more productive and prosperous, Mukaruriza urged local leaders to sensitise residents about the benefits of regional integration to the local economy.

"With full freedom of movement for all the factors of production between the member countries, there is bound to be more efficiency and hence better modes of production,” she said.

Emanuel Gahutu, Officer in charge of Customs at Rwanda Revenue Authority (RRA), told the local leaders that under the Common Market trade barriers are being removed which should ultimately benefit traders.

Jean Baptiste Mutabazi, Executive Secretary of Muhazi sector in Rwamagana district, said it was interesting to note that legislation, regulations and administrative procedures can no longer discriminate between domestic and regional businesses.

He, however, said that Rwanda should embrace what most East African countries do, like switch to left hand driving.

The Protocol on the establishment of the EAC Common Market entered into force on July 1, 2010, following ratification by all the five Partner States of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.

Ends