The flags of the member-states of the East African Community. Members
are yet to agree on the location of the new commission. Photo/FILE
Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, and Uganda
citizens are expected to start using national identity cards to visit
each other this year as part of the Common Market Protocol.
East
African Community secretary-general Richard Sezibera says the agreement
by the four states to allow citizens to use IDs will significantly
boost movement of persons and labour in East Africa.
At the moment, one has to obtain national passport or temporary passes to be allowed to cross the border.
“I look forward to implementation on agreement on use of IDs beginning 2014,” Dr Sezibera said.
The
use of IDs as travel documents, he said, would continue up to December
as the bloc introduces internationalised East African passport at the
beginning of next year
SINGLE CURRENCY
When
implemented fully, the region’s Common Market Protocol will open the
borders for free exchange of goods, professional services and factors of
production such as capital and labour.
In preparation
for cross-border exchange of labour and other services, the region has
reached agreement on Mutual Recognition of Qualifications in East Africa
with plans underway to turn East Africa into a single higher education
area by 2015.
In November, the five heads of state
signed a Monetary Union Protocol that seeks to give the region is common
central bank and a single currency by 2024.
Kenya also teamed up with Rwanda and Uganda to accelerate infrastructure development on Mombasa-Kampala-Kigali corridor.
In 2014, the bloc has listed transparency in recruitment to regional bodies among its top priorities.
In
future, hiring of staff for bloc’s bodies will be done through
professional firms as opposed to current practice where state organs
make references, Dr Sezibera said.
This article first appeared in the Business Daily.
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