community has enhanced our economic development. While addressing the Regional Business Summit in in October 2014, President Paul Kagame said, “ has benefited from the EAC’s large market, challenges have been shared and addressed together, benefits have come from many sources and Rwanda has been much better in the last seven years”. Some of the key achievements of the EAC include the implementation of the Customs Union and Common Market Protocols and increasing competitiveness in terms of the proactive implementation of EAC commitments. This progress has been crucial in boosting Rwanda’s economic development and the livelihoods of our citizens. Rwanda is now the most competitive economy in the region and third in Africa, according to the new 2014- 2015 Global Competitiveness Index report. The ranking was due to a wide range of factors, including the ease of registering a business (it now only takes six hours), technology innovation, strong and dynamic institutions, zero tolerance to corruption, stability and security among others. In terms of the EAC Customs Union, Rwanda has removed non-tariff barriers that were in the form of roadblocks, weighbridges and other formalities. Working hours at our main border posts have also been extended. The Border between Rwanda and now For trade and investment to grow, we knew that people operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Rusumo needed to be able to move freely across borders. As a result, steps were taken to make it easier for EAC citizens border with Tanzania now operates 16 hours a day, The seven days a week and the Nemba border with Burundi to move throughout the community. Today, citizens of operates 18 hours a day, seven days a week. The Cyanika implementation Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya can use their national IDs and borders with Uganda are now both of the Single and student cards to travel freely by air and road. More open 16 hours a day, seven days a week. The extending Customs EAC members are soon to come on board. The use of of operational hours has boosted trade and investment Territory IDs and student cards has increased the free movement The East African of people, which is an opportunity for Rwandans to as well as encouraged more Rwandans to participate in cross border trade. has reduced learn from best practices in the region and continue transport days to improve our competitiveness in an ever-expanding The implementation of the Single Customs Territory has from 21 to 5 market. Community is open reduced transport days from 21 to 5 from Mombasa to Kigali and the cost of hiring a truck to transport cargo from Mombasa The use of ID cards as travel documents and the removal By Valentine Rugwabiza from Mombasa to Kigali has been reduced by about US to Kigali. of visa and work permit fees for East Africans has also $1,000, down to $4,200 in 2014 from $5,200 in 2010. facilitated enterprises to source competent professionals Minister of East African Community, from EAC Partner States to fill the shortage of skilled for business Within the Central Corridor, cargo is expected to grow Government of Rwanda technicians. These measures have yielded impressive by 15% for the period 2014-2030. This corridor accounts results: for more than 60% of Rwanda’s incoming volumes of imports and is still the preferred route by importers. The • 1,163,321 Rwandans used their ID or student card to he East African Community is one of the The Treaty establishing the East African Community initiative to improve the Central Corridor has a direct travel to Kenya and Uganda between 2014 – March most vibrant economic blocs on the was created in 1999 and requires the EAC to be people impact on transport costs, reducing of the cost of doing 2015. African continent. With more than 150 centred and private sector led. This means that a bottom business in and with Rwanda. million citizens, the five countries that up approach that meets the needs and interests of • 219,574 Ugandans and 24,951 Kenyans used voter or make up the EAC, Rwanda, Kenya, Uganda, citizens should drive EAC integration. By embracing this In line with the EAC Common Market agreement, ID cards to travel to Rwanda between 2014 – March TBurundi and Tanzania, are benefitting enormously policy, Rwanda has seen first-hand the benefits that factors of production including goods, services, labour 2015. from the integration brought about by the formation EAC integration has brought for our citizens and our and capital are now freely tradable in the region. This • Rwanda has waived fees for work permits for all of the community. We have seen remarkable progress businesses. has reduced costs and increased opportunities for EAC nationals and granted 14,935 work permits in achieving the objectives of the EAC – widening economies of scale for all businesses in EAC member Rwanda joined the EAC almost eight years ago and from January 2009 to March 2015 to East Africans and deepening co-operation among Partner States in countries. there is no question that the country’s accession to the – Burundi (2,499), Kenya (5,038), Tanzania (833) and political, economic and social fields for the benefit of all. Uganda (6,565).

54 | FLY OUR DREAM TO THE HEART OF AFRICA RWANDAIR INZOZI MAGAZINE | 55 In the spirit of boosting tourism, the East African Tourist Visa was created, allowing tourists to travel between Rwanda, Uganda and Kenya with a Single Tourist Visa. From January 2014 to March 2015, Rwanda issued 2,924 East African Tourist Visas. In addition to easing travel between the three Partner States, 157 economic undertakings by Rwandans were established in the EAC Partner States from 2010–2014. During the same period, 401 economic undertakings of citizens from other Partner States were established in Rwanda. This shows Rwanda’s increasing competitiveness as an investment destination. In total, regional investments worth over $100 million were injected into the Rwandan economy, providing employment opportunities to more than 2,500 Rwandans. This is testament to the benefits of regional integration. Despite Rwanda and the region’s progress in implementing EAC commitments, member states must keep working for the bloc to be more integrated and more competitive. The current status of the implementation of EAC commitments stands at 64.3%, which calls for proactive translation of commitments into actions. This will be achieved through the timely implementation of EAC commitments and by eliminating the remaining barriers that hinder the free movement of people, goods and services. As EAC Partner States, we also need to strengthen the manufacturing sector to reduce exportation of raw materials and establish strong regional value chain systems. This can be done by supporting the private sector to grow industries that employ the younger generation and promote competitiveness.

Ultimately, the EAC should seek to connect with global value chains for increased competitiveness. To achieve this, the private sector should be an equal co-pilot with governments because the level of integration we seek cannot be reached without being driven by the private sector. The business community should propose their priorities to policy makers for balanced and sustainable development. For example, the historic EAC-EU partnership is a call to the private sector to prepare for the opening up of one of the world’s largest markets. As our Heads of State emphasised, political will is the key to implementing the EAC integration agenda. We must view ourselves as East Africans and open up our borders and markets to take up the opportunities available in the region. The more we integrate, the more benefits we will gain than if we had simply worked on our own. Rwanda has tested and realised the benefits of integration. That is why we are working closely with all stakeholders in the market to eliminate existing barriers to trade and promote and encourage Rwandans to tap into the opportunities that exist within the community. We look forward to welcoming you to Rwanda and the East African Community and hope you enjoy your stay.

56 | FLY OUR DREAM TO THE HEART OF AFRICA