Africa-Press – Tanzania. THE East Africa Business Council (EABC) has stated that unilateral border closures hinder intra-regional trade, especially for the community that relies on border trade.
EABC Executive Director, Mr John Kalisa, said early this week that the adverse effects of border closures on intra-regional trade impact the community that depends on border businesses.
“The adverse effects of unilateral border closures on intra-regional trade hinder foreign investment and citizen welfare,” said Mr Bosco during a webinar discussing the implications of border closures and unilateral actions on regional trade and integration, organized by the East African Law Society (EALS).
He emphasized the critical pillars supporting East Africa’s growth, including integration commitment, macroeconomic management, and infrastructure development.
The region’s economic growth rates are 7.2 percent in Rwanda, 6.2 per cent in Uganda, 6.2 percent in Tanzania, 6 per cent in Burundi, and 5.7 per cent in Kenya. He called for refraining from such actions and advocated for strengthening regional institutions to transparently manage political tensions and resolve trade disputes.
EALS Advocate Representative Dr Henry Oneria mentioned that ongoing trade disputes are highlighting the disproportionate impact of sudden border closures on vulnerable communities reliant on crossborder trade. He urged for bilateral talks to address underlying political grievances and maintain stability and good neighborly relations across East Africa.
Furthermore, Kenyatta University Prof Tomasz Milej stated that the bloc should address challenges with freedom of movement for workers and services, advocating for litigation to enforce treaty obligations and support businesses.
Moreover, the East Africa Court of Justice Deputy Registrar, Ms Christine Mutimura, outlined challenges faced by the court, including delays in case determinations and a lack of mechanisms for decision implementation by partner states.
The session concluded with a call for collaborative efforts to mitigate the negative effects of border closures and uphold regional trade and integration objectives.
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