The
Prime Minister of the United Republic of Tanzania, Rt. Hon Majaliwa,
Kassim Majaliwa delivered the State of EAC Address at the commencement
of the 5th Meeting of the 4th
Session of the 3rd Assembly in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
Rt
Hon Majaliwa delivered the Speech on behalf of the President of the
United Republic of Tanzania, H.E. John Pombe Joseph Magufuli, who is
also the Chair of
the Summit of EAC Heads of State.The remarks,
gave a score-card on a number of areas related to the pillars of integration.
On
the Customs Union, the Prime Minister noted the consolidated gains of
the Single Customs Territory which initially commenced in 2014 on a
pilot basis along
the Northern and Central corridors. He cited this was realized through
the finalization of key operational instruments entailing revision of
business manuals, development of M&E tool framework, deployment of
staff and revision of enforcement framework.
Rt
Hon Majaliwa remarked that the Community had adopted the use of One
Stop Business Posts (OSBPs) as a trade facilitation concept to minimize
delays at the
border posts and on the major corridors in the region. He informed the
House that out of the 15 borders earmarked to operate as OSBPs, seven
had been completed and 4 others were operating as OSBPs using bilateral
agreements.
“The seven are Gasenyi/Nemba, Ruhwa, Lunga Lunga/HoroHoro, Holili/Taveta, ISebania/Sirari, Kagitumba/Mirama Hills and Rusumo”, Rt. Hon Majaliwa said.
The Prime Minister remarked that intra EAC Trade was expected to register phenomenal increase in the next few years.
“Trade
is now at 23%, over and above intra-African Trade figure of 12%. There
has been a 300% increase in the value of trade from 2 Billion USD in
2005 to
6 Billion USD in 2014,” Rt. Hon Majaliwa said.
“These numbers coupled with the combined GDP of 110.3 Billion makes our region a formidable trading bloc,” he added.The Prime Minister stated that the
Business community in the region had established a Code of Conduct which he said, would check on corruption.
Rt.
Hon Majaliwa thus hailed the East African Business Council (EABC) for
signing commitments to the ethical business standards to guide
collaboration between
various stakeholders in promoting trade.
He urged the region to push for total removal of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs). “ We all admit that we have done well in eliminating tariff related barriers,
we must resolve to do away with the remaining ones”, Rt. Hon Majaliwa added, citing the examples of removal of various roadblocks in the region.
On
Infrastructure, the Prime Minister remarked that Partner States were
actively engaged in the Standard Gauge Railway with Republic of Kenya
having completed
coverage of about 200km out of 472 km of formation as of September last
year.
On
the Common Market, the Prime Minister gave an account of achievements
realized in the Partner States to date. He remarked that Republic of
Burundi now recognizes
the academic qualifications, experiences obtained, licenses and
certifications obtained for the workers from other EAC Partner States.
The
United Republic of Tanzania on its part, has issued a total of 3,222
simplified Certificates of Origin were issued as at June 2015 as
compared to 2,355 certificates
issued in 2014. In Kenya, the Prime Minister said development of an SMS
based NTBs Reporting System to facilitate reporting and subsequent
elimination of NTBs had been initiated
Republic
of Rwanda, the Prime Minister added, had eliminated all Non-Tariff
Barriers and further harmonized demographic and social statistics for
undertaking
agricultural surveys and census. All the initiatives he added, were
geared towards enhancing the Common Market Protocol. In Uganda, the
value of goods from other Partner States accorded zero-tariff treatment
grew by 9% while 360 EAC standards on traded goods
had been adopted and were in application.
He
however lamented that the region continued to face challenges, citing
delay of issuance of electronic Certificate of Origin which were yet to
be adopted regionally,
and the need to fastrack the completion of the Annex on Mutual
Recognition of Academic and Professional Qualifications. The Prime
Minister was further categorical that the slow pace of harmonization of
national laws into the EAC context hampered implementation
of the commitments.
The
Prime Minister lauded the Speaker for EALA’s continued role in
legislation, oversight and representation and urged the Assembly to
double its efforts in
sensitization of the publics.
In
his welcoming remarks, the Speaker of the EALA, Rt. Hon Daniel F.
Kidega remarked that EAC integration process was stronger given the
commitment of various
stakeholders in the process.
He
however urged the EAC to instil quick interventions with regards to the
Common Market Protocol. He said there was need to move faster and
ensure free movement
of persons as well as the rights to residence.
“As
politicians we feel the tenets of the Common Market Protocol have not
been fully met over the last five years. A sticking area concerns
that of free movement of persons and the rights to residence. The East
African Trade Union Confederation (EATUC) and the East African
Employers Organisation (EAEO) did petition EALA on the matter, of which
was debated and passed by the House”, Rt Hon
Kidega said.
The
Speaker hailed the United Republic of Tanzania for its commitment to
harmonising work and resident permits as well as the necessary fees in
line with providing
preferential treatment to the citizens of the EAC Partner States. He
remarked that the Republics of Rwanda, Kenya and Uganda had already
abolished work permit fees and introduced inter-state passes and that
the move encouraged workers to move freely in search
of opportunities.
Rt. Hon Kidega hailed the Summit of the EAC Heads of State for the significant announcements made at the 17th
Summit of the EAC Heads of State held
last week in Arusha, Tanzania. He welcomed the entry of the Republic
of South Sudan to the EAC fold and said EALA looked forward to
welcoming the legislators.
The
EALA Speaker also lauded the Heads of State for launching the EAC
International E-Passport. The Passport which replaces national and EAC
Passports takes
effect in January 2017.He remarked that Tanzania had continued to realise progress and congratulated the new leadership.
“In
the first 100 days of H.E. Dr Magufuli’s leadership, the country has
realized major transformation. Revenue collection has doubled from
Tshs 900 Billion to average of Tshs 1.4 Trillion per month, while you
have similarly enhanced efficiency in service delivery in government
institutions. Further to this, we are appreciative of the Government’s
desire and the renewed spirit to tackle and fight
corruption head on”, Rt Hon Kidega said.
Speaker
of Parliament of Tanzania Rt. Hon Job Ndugai, said the region was
looking forward to inclusion of the new Legislators from the Republic of
South Sudan
and it would enlarge the bloc. He further urged the EALA to be bold
as it plays its rightful place in the integration process.
The
State of EAC Address is delivered annually to the EALA by the
Chairperson of the EAC Heads of State. The State of EAC Address
sets
the momentum and impetus for the integration process by reflecting on
general policies that relate to the Community’s progress while outlining
the strategic challenges which require attention.
The
novelty of the State of EAC Address dates back to the year 2008 when
H.E. President Yoweri Museveni made the first inaugural Address to this
Assembly in Arusha. During the two week Sitting, EALA shall
debate on the EAC Disaster Risk Reduction Bill, 2012,
EAC Bill on Persons with Disabilities, 2015 and the EAC Supplementary Appropriation Bill.
The Assembly is also to consider, debate and approve various Reports of Committees of EALA.
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