KIGALI - Negotiations that may result in free movement of persons, labour, goods, service and capital within the East African region by 2010 opened yesterday at Kigali Serena Hotel. The eight-day talks involving high level negotiators from member states will see the countries present their national interests in the regional grouping.

Prudence Sebahizi, the chief negotiator for Rwanda, said the country was well positioned to safeguard national interests within the regional common market framework.

Sebahizi, also the executive secretary of the country’s regional integration committee, said the negotiators will draft a report which will be used in other subsequent negotiations before the end of year.

"It is that draft report that the EAC Secretariat shall base on to develop comprehensive strategic decisions for the common market protocol,” he explained.

Sebahizi was optimistic that by the end of the ongoing negotiations, a common understanding amongst delegates will have been achieved for the betterment of the regional bloc. 

However when the summit opened, only four member states; Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda were presented while Tanzania was missing out.

EAC Deputy Secretary General, Ambassador Julius Onen, said all member states were supposed to be represented by their respective national taskforces.

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