EAC IS STILL FACING HURDLESS OVER THE PLANNED COMMON MARKET FOR THE REGION AS MEMBERS SUSPICION PERSIST.
Posted by African Press International on September 3, 2008
By Leo Odera Omolo,
THE East African Community {EAC} member states have agreed to address reservations by some members over the establishment of a common market in the region.
While opening an EAC meeting in Nairobi a week ago, A Kenyan Permanent Secretary to the EAC David Nalo attributed the aparthy and delay in the formation of a regional common market to deep-rooted suspicions and fear of losing control of market by some member states.
The PS said some member countries of the EAC were apprehensive that the proposal would distort their market as regional powerhouse were likely to dominate the trade in the region.
“There is fear of losing out as far as balance of trade is concerned, but we are optimistic of reaching a consensus, he said.
Early this year Tanzania failed to attend a crucial EAC meeting in Kigalui, Rwanda, a move interpreted other member states as lack of commitment to negotiating and implementing the common market protocol.
Tanzania has, however, maintained it is committed to the implementation of a common market, but has raised a number of issues on the deal.
The Kigali negotiations held in April this year were meant to clear the way for free movement of persons, labour, goods, services and capital within the region by the end of 2010..
Uganda, Kenya, Rwanda and Burundi the other members of the EAC have agreed on the new measures to allay Tanzania fears over the common market during a High Level Task meeting, which concluded second round of the negotiation in Nairobi on August 23,2008.
The meeting reviewed Tanzania’s position on the Kigali Agreement, which among other things, addressed free movement of goods, people and labour.
The EAC Secretariat at Arusha has reported that work was in progress towards a protocol that would establish a development fund.
Meanwhile the East African Community {EAC} national airlines are undergoing major aviation tests to enhance safety.
Regional aviation safety body, Civil Aviation Safety and Security Agency{CASSOA} is undertaking a re-certification exercise for the airlines that do not meet the standard by the agency would not be certified for operations.
The executive director of CASSOA Mtesigwa Maugo said the agency working through its experts and local civil aviation authorities, would help such carriers achieve required standards. The exercise, which was to be conducted on August 19, 2008 and scheduled for conclusion this week.
The first phase involved pre-application, where the airline operators were to meet with CASSOA officials for briefing on the exercise..
The next four stages were the formal application {by operators},evaluation documents {by CASSOA}, demonstration {physical assessment of operators systems and equipment} and the eventual approval for operation.
Representatives from the regio0n’s major carriers met with CASSOA officials and agency’s appointed aviation experts in Tanzania last week and this week.
Kenya Airways and East African Safari Express were some of the major players in Arusha for the meeting. Tanzania carriers were to follow on Thursday and Friday last week before Uganda air operators complete the phase this week
The re-certification exercise follows the end of a one-year grace period provided to the carriers to adjust to new regional aviation requirements, put in placer after EAC member states harmonized air safety regulations.
Rwanda and Burundi carriers, the two countries that joined EAC last year, are yet to be included in this arrangement, CASSOA was set up in April last year to help partner states implement recommended standards and ensure a safe and secure aviation industry for the region.
It held its first board meeting in Arusha in January this year where CASSOA approved several activities to improve then safety and security of civil aviation industry in East Africa.
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