Regional integration is an imperative
for sustainable development and the time is now!
Nairobi (Kenya), August 19,
2013
"Regional integration is one critical
factor in efforts to achieve sustainable development in
East Africa. This sustainability does not mean the
maintenance of the status quo but should look at the
long term development needs of the region. The region
should integrate because it is the right thing to do at
this time", said Ambassador Richard Sezibera, the
Secretary General of East African Community (EAC).
Dr Sezibara was delivering the 7th CUTS 30th Anniversary
Lecture on the theme: "Regional Integration for
Sustainable Development in East African Community" at
Nairobi yesterday.
The event was chaired by Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, incoming
Secretary General of UNCTAD, which included discussants:
Pradeep S Mehta, Secretary General, CUTS International;
Frank Maetsart CEO of Trade Mark East Africa; Mr. Lamin
Manneh, Chief Regional Integration Officer from African
Development Bank and Prof. Jasper Okelo, WTO Chair,
School of Economics, University of Nairobi. The event
included over 250 participants from the civil society;
government; diplomats; academia; research institutions;
private sector; media and development partners.
"CUTS has done very useful work on
regional integration process especially through applied
research, advocacy and networking and also partnered
with the EAC Secretariat in its projects on trade,
climate change and food security" said Dr Sezibara. "We
value this relationship highly and look forward to more
cooperation".
Dr Kituyi in his opening remarks inter alia spoke about
the need for developing countries to fashion the
development narrative, rather than be guided to what
comes from elsewhere. He also stressed on regional
integration as a building block for the multilateral
system.
"Examining the history of Africa over the centuries,
there has always been the struggle for sovereignty and
state building after independence, yet in spite of those
challenges, the continent has been able to navigate.
Currently, we are experiencing the rise of a new Africa
which is dynamic, vibrant, sure of its destiny and
continues to fine and refine its narrative. However,
Africa still has unfinished agenda, which is integrating
and mobilizing her people to fully achieve the narrative
that is being refined" asserted Dr Sezibara.
Integration of markets is crucial for trade, commerce
and industrialization. East Africa, with an estimated
population of 133 million people and still growing,
presents a huge market opportunity that attracts
investments as noted by Mr Lamin Manneh of the African
Development Bank.
Besides, no country has developed by turning inward and
keeping the others out. Those that did were forced to
change. It can therefore be concluded that international
trade is a prerequisite for development. "If you cannot
trade with your neighbour, you will trade your
neighbour" said Sezibera, referring to East Africa
during the colonial times, which included slave trade.
On progress in the integration process, the protocol for
a monetary union is to be signed in September then the
journey to political federation begins, said Dr Sezibara.
"This however calls for harmonization of monetary
policies, regulation and discipline in public sector
debt so that partner states are not exposed to a similar
crisis like the recent one in the Eurozone".
Other areas where cooperation has been identified is
harmonization in the sharing of natural resources in a
sustainable manner, multilateral negotiations in the
World Trade Organisation (WTO) and United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as well
as cooperation on security and defense.
On the above issues, Dr Kituyi stressed the importance
of building capacity for African negotiators to
effectively engage in these processes from a regional
perspective.
EAC intends to reach middle income status within this
generation; this is possible but not with balkanized
states and it explains the EAC rational integration,
which takes a share of 3 of the top 6 fastest growing
economies in the world, all in Africa.
Frank Maetsart noted that one of the basics is raising
competitiveness for trade and tackling the
inefficiencies at the ports as well as other
infrastructural bottlenecks. Jasper Okelo strengthened
this by arguing that "regional integration is not for
debate, we either have it or forget about development".
Finally, cultural homogeneity is not a prerequisite for
regional integration; rather it is the will,
determination and enactment of the right policies which
spurs integration. A good example is India, said Pradeep
Mehta, Secretary General of CUTS International; "India
is multilingual, multiracial, multi-religious,
multicultural and has managed to hold on together as a
country and achieve much, in terms of development.
Therefore, the different cultures in East Africa should
not be seen as an obstacle to integration".
"India has had a long term political relationship with
most countries in Africa over the years, which was built
up around the common legacy of colonialism. She will
continue to deepen her relationship with Africa which
includes providing soft skills in many areas of
governance, and CUTS too will play an important role in
this effort", said Mehta.
"Our next two public lectures are also designed on
regional integration in Africa. Besides, CUTS is opening
its third centre in Accra this month which will be
inaugurated by Ms Hanna Tetteh, Ghana's Foreign and
Regional Integration Minister which includes her lecture
on regional integration in West Africa", said Mehta.
In his vote of thanks, Clement Onyango, Director of CUTS
Nairobi Centre said that CUTS works as a complement to
efforts being made by governments and intergovernmental
organisations rather than as a competitor.
For further information please contact:
Mr. Clement Onyango,
nairobi@cuts.org or
cvo@cuts.org