Africa-Press – Mozambique. SPEAKER of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Martin Ngoga has called upon EAC partner states to shun nationalism and instead embrace the spirit of integration.
In his remarks delivered by Kenyan lawmaker Abdika- dir Aden, Mr Ngoga warned that nationalistic interests among the six member states, was derailing the economic bloc towards achieving the envisioned integration.
“Much as we are a fast- growing economic bloc, some of our national interests still supersede EAC ambitions and aspirations,” said the EALA Speaker at a Parliamentary Forum on EAC Affairs High- Level Dinner hosted by the East African Business Council (EABC) last week.
Mr Ngoga urged the law- makers to borrow a leaf from other regional economic and political unions such as the Economic Community of West African States (ECOW- AS), describing it as a model for the community.
The EALA Speaker further urged the legislators to strive to unlock and resolve the barriers and disputes to trade and investments in the EAC bloc for increased eco- nomic growth and prosperity for East Africans.
He said: “Parliamentarians hold the key to fast-track and unlock opportunities of the EAC regional integration agenda.”
But in a quick rejoinder, an EALA member representing the Ugandan Chapter, George Odongo acknowledged that the lawmakers share their legislative laws with their national assemblies.
“There’s a huge gap of commitment between our regional assembly and our national parliaments…we need, as EALA members to seize this opportu- nity,” observed Mr Odongo.
On his part, EABC boss John Bosco Kalisa told the re- gional members from the six partner states that the economic potential of the EAC bloc was getting affected by the high cost of doing business due to double taxation, persistent Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), non-harmo- nized product standards and dissimilar policies on work per- mit, telecommunication.
Mr Kalisa urged the MPs to champion the implementation of the One Network Area for Communication, quick ratifica- tion of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Open Skies and finalization of the Common External Tariff review process.
The EABC Chief Executive Officer also called for a green channel for EAC originating goods to trade freely across the region in order to spur intra- EAC trade from the current level of 15 per cent.
“It’s high time we push for the ratification of the EAC Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion and EAC coordinated approach on COVID-19 measures, vaccina- tions and mutual recognition of COVID-19 testing certificate which validity period and fees,” he added.
EABC is the regional apex body of private sector associa- tions and Corporates from the 6 East African countries.
It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process of the East African Community.
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