Delegates convened in Uganda on regional trade discussions have called for the need of partner states to make further commitments under the liberalization of labor and services sectors.
It was observed that the harmonization of laws is still so low among the partner states and called for urgent intervention to towards improving this.
Regional experts meeting in Entebbe city have also observed an increase in free movement of goods between member states.
Free movement of labour within the EAC region is still limited. However, trade growth has been reported in the past 7 years since inception of the Common Market Protocol.
It has also been noted that without full implementation of the common market protocol, nothing would be constructive in the regional integration.
“Rwanda and Burundi’s revenue grew by 20% between 2008 and 2010 the revenue/ GDP ratio has stagnated over the period in all the partner states between Kenya at 22%, Tanzania 18%, Uganda and Rwanda at 12.5%,” he said.
Trade performance had shot with total intra- trade figures growing from $1.6 billion in 2005 to $3.8 billion in 2010 which is more than 100% increase. “Percentage of intra trade to total trade has increased from 7.8% in 2006 to 11.4% in 2010. Total EAC exports grew from $6.4 billion in 2006 to 11.1 billion in 2010 hence 73% increase.
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