High Level Task Force responsible for Rwanda’s East African Community Common Market negotiations says it lacks enough time and resources to handle key issues.

The experts also said the country lacks capacity especially in technical fields, which require experts to evaluate the report before presentation for negotiations. The Private Sector Federation Director of Trade and Regional Integration John Bosco Kalisa argues that the country is negotiating many things within a limited time frame.

"We are supposed to negotiate the EAC Customs Union, Common Market and the Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) concurrently within a period of one year,” he said.  As a result, Sodipo Babajide, a trade expert said there is lack of commitment for thorough discussions and reporting the outcomes for negotiations. 

However Rwanda’s Ambassador to the Great Lakes Region DR Richard Sezibera pointed out that, integration is not choice but a must. He urged the stakeholders to deliver within the available time frame.
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