Taking stock of the EAC integration milestones

Not only did they demonstrate good knowledge of regional issues – be it economic, social or political – but Mount Kenya University (MKU) students also entertained the audience in a spirited debate about the importance of regional integration. The motion was: “Benefits of EAC integration are purely economic.” During the Wednesday debate, the students displayed their public speaking skill, at the Ministry of East African Community Affairs. The debate was part of activities set in motion, on Monday as the Ministry launched its sixth EAC awareness week themed: “8 Years of Rwanda in the EAC: Deepening the Regional Integration Agenda.” After considering how the two teams of three each, tied their arguments to facts, as well as how eloquent, confident and humorous they were, judges decided that the proposers - Yvan Magwene, Abdul Razack Uzabumwana and Doreen Nahwera, were the winners. The three best speakers were Mekha-Rousseau Ndayisenga, Doreen Nawhera, and Yvan Magwene. All six debaters were given special awards as well as Ipads. After the event, Uzabumwana who was particularly expressive about the benefits of the bloc’s Customs Union protocol during the heated debate later told The New Times that he is passionate about integration. “The best part was not only just about debate but to get to know more about the region and integration. I feel excited. We won but I actually learnt that the EAC population benefits more than economically, from integration.” Dr Simon Gicharu, an educationist and founder of MKU, encouraged the students to work hard and aspire to promote as well as benefit from regional integration. “I want to say that I am a beneficiary of the EAC integration. We are here because of those particular benefits, be it social, economic, or otherwise,” Dr Gicharu said. “And such a debate is what the communities need. Communities that stay passive never develop.” During the course of the latest EAC awareness week, the ministry is targeting university students as a priority focus group, among others, because the harmonisation of EAC education is now top on the bloc’s integration agenda. The awareness is held in all EAC member states during the month of November, following the recommendation of the meeting of Council of Ministers in 2010. Locally, the objective of the awareness this year is to update Rwandans on key achievements based on EAC integration; promote awareness on key ongoing projects and programmes; and to address the public’s concerns and questions on EAC integration. Dr Mercyline Kamande, the Principal of Mount Kenya University Kigali Campus, who has worked in Rwanda for the past five years said: “We fully embrace the integration spirit. It is the work permits that have enabled us do our work.” “The efficiency of the Rwandan government in processing work permits for our staff allowed us to operate with ease. And we really want our students to embrace the integration especially in the use of English language.” Since it was adopted in 2009, the Common Market Protocol has enabled the gradual free movement of people, capital, goods and services. The Common Market which also involves the right of establishment and residence, came into force on July 1, 2010. Today, about $100 million is now invested by Kenyan and Tanzanian companies, since 2008, and this has created over 2,500 jobs for Rwandans. From January 2014 to June 2015, 1,311,827 Rwandans used ID or student cards to travel to Kenya and Uganda. Another 1,350,254 citizens of other Partner States travelled to Rwanda from June 2010 – June 2015 and were granted stay. Rwanda waived fees for work permits for all EAC nationals who are workers. EAC citizens are treated as domestic investors for the Initial Public Offers (IPOs) and they are given at least 40 percent of IPOs launched by the stock exchanges in all EAC Partner States. Among others, use of ID cards as travel documents, removal of Visa and work permit fees for East Africans facilitated enterprises to source competent professionals from the EAC Partner States to fix the skills gap. The implementation of the One Network Area (ONA) for both calls and data, the removal of roaming charges (Rwanda, Kenya Uganda and South Sudan) is now facilitating the exchange of information, business and best practices. On average, today, the calling cost dropped from $0.28 (Rwf193) per minute to $0.1 (Rwf68) per minute and, traffic numbers are also up by 400%. Reduction in communication costs across borders further enhances trade opportunities and interaction among the citizenry and businesses, and also facilitates the ease of doing business in the region. Among others, several projects – including a standard gauge railway (SGR), an oil refinery, and a refined petroleum products pipeline, that will further boost the bloc’s economy and improve livelihoods in the near future are being fast-racked. Customs Union Under the Customs Union (CU), the Electronic Single Window System (ESWS), a trade facilitation initiative reduced the time it takes to clear goods by an estimated three days or by 46 percent. The reduction of non-tariff barriers has improved the business environment in the region. In addition, because of the Single Customs Territory along the Northern Corridor, transit goods are cleared at first point of entry in EAC, weighbridges are being removed, police and customs check points reduced, computerized clearance introduced and electronic cargo tracking systems are in place. Transit time was reduced from 21 to five days from Mombasa to Kigali and the cost of hiring a truck to convey cargo from Mombasa to Kigali reduced by about US $1000 from $5,200 in 2010 to $4,200 in 2014.

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Taking stock of the EAC integration milestones