Rwandans have been encouraged to seek information about the East African Community so as to maximise benefits from regional integration.The call was made during a two-day workshop in Gisagara organised by the Rwanda Civil Society Platform, which targeted grassroots leaders as well as representatives of local cooperatives.The workshop seeks to equip the participants with basic knowledge regarding regional integration, the current progress and achievements so far registered as well as giving them an insight into how they could benefit from the integration process, according to Boniface Remezo, the coordinator of the Civil Society platform in Gisagara District.Such training has in the past targeted sector executive secretaries as well as youth and women representatives.Remezo said Rwandans must understand the EAC context and as well get involved in its integration process if they are to benefit from the bloc.“EAC brought about a lot of positive things but some members of the [Rwandan] community still ignore it,” Remezo said, citing access to large markets and opportunities for new jobs and businesses, among others.Be inquisitiveHe challenged participants to always seek information about new developments about the integration process so as to fully exploit integration opportunities.Joseph Hakizimana, a member of CIM Huye, a cooperative of taxi-moto operators, said he had heard about the regional bloc but didn’t know how he could benefit from it.“I have learned that the bloc is opening up new markets that we could exploit,” he said. “I was ignorant of the EAC benefits to ordinary citizen but now I am starting to think of how to seize this wonderful opportunity so as to move to the next level.”Janviere Nzamukeshimana, a member of Abakundana beef cooperative, said she realised there were very many things about the integration process she ignored but will now help in awareness campaigns.“There are large markets that we can target throughout the bloc. What I realise is that we only need to improve on the quality of what we are doing for us to be more competitive,” Nzamukeshimana said.
