Industry projects EAC-powered export boom

• Unilever’s Blue Band spread now selling duty-free in Dar and Kampala

“Free movement of labour and services is also a key step remaining to fully exploit the potential of the East African market,” he said.

The Kenya Association of Manufacturers says there are plans among partner states to harmonise regulations that would affect implementation of the EAC Common Market Protocol signed by heads of state in November 2009.

The protocol would lift restrictions imposed earlier on cross-border movement of workers in East Africa.

The EAC Common Market Protocol allows free movement of citizens of the five partner states to work within the region and provides for non-discrimination with regard to employment, remuneration and other conditions of work and employment.

No visa needed

Mr Shah said that although the common market protocol is expected to begin July 1, Rwanda has already started implementing it.

“It is happening in Rwanda because you don’t need a visa or work permit to go work in Rwanda if you are a Kenyan,” he said. “I expect this to be replicated in other countries because there is political will to fully implement the common market protocol.”

From 2005 to 2008 intra-EAC trade has risen by 49 per cent. A conspicuous positive performance has been registered by Tanzania and Uganda whose export growth to the region has more than doubled since 2005.

Similarly Kenya has continued to register increases in total trade with the other partner states that stood at 25 per cent in 2008.