Wachira Kang'aru
23 October 2008
Nairobi — The first meeting to forge a larger regional bloc from three existing ones among ended on Thursday with leaders calling for a speedy move to integration.
In their Final Communiqué issued at the conclusion of the Tripartite Summit, the Heads of State and representatives of 26 African countries noted that the integration should be on the basis of achieving economic growth, reducing poverty and attaining sustainable economic development.
The 26 countries are currently members of the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (Comesa), East African Community (EAC) and the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC).
To meet the laid objectives, leaders laid out a programme of harmonisation of trading arrangements amongst the three regional economic communities, free movement of business persons, joint implementation of inter-regional infrastructure programmes as well as institutional arrangements on the basis of which the three RECs would foster cooperation.
Among the first steps taken to fast track integration were an order to the three regional secretariats to "development of a roadmap, within 6 months, for the establishment of a Free Trade Area and measures to facilitate the movement of business persons across the regions."
The setting up the Free Trade Area, the leaders noted, should be with ultimate goal of establishing a single Customs Union, ending import taxes on goods originating from member states and other non-tariffs barrier to trade within the bigger region.
A special Tripartite Council of Ministers was directed to meet within the next 12 months to consider the study report on the roadmap towards the Free Trade Area and determine the time frame within which that should happen.
The leaders also resolved that the three regions should immediately start working towards a merger into a single region block with the objective of fast tracking the attainment of the African Economic Community.
Among the tangibles to come out of the meeting was the launch of the Joint Competition Authority (JCA) on Air Transport Liberalisation.
The new authority will oversee full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision on Air Transport to fast track air connectivity in the three regions by January 2009.
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