The Investments, Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary (CS), Moses Kuria, has hinted that in the near future National Identity Cards (IDs), will be used as a through pass within the East Africa countries, to ease trade in the region.
Kuria explained that they came up with this idea after realizing that some of the traders within the East Africa region are not able to afford passports, thus limiting them from exposing their businesses to other countries.
He added that the IDs will also enhance social integration among the people of East Africa.
“The Regional Economic Blocs will work closely with the East Africa Community Committee (EACC) in making strategies that will act as the trading foundation for the African Union,” said the CS.
Speaking during a coordination meeting held today by the African Union (AU) Commission and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), including the East Africa Community (EAC)/Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Regional Mechanisms (RMs), Kuria said that the main aim of the meeting was to set strategies which the Committee can use to improve the intra-African trade, from thirteen percent to fifty percent.
“We are also planning to come-up with a direct airline to ease the movement within the African continent,” stated Kuria, adding that the direct airline will enable the passengers to travel directly to a particular country without having to stop over in a different state, to connect their flights to reach their destinations.
At the same time EAC Secretary General, Dr. Peter Mathuki, said that it is the responsibility of the EAC to ensure that peace prevails in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Mathuki cited the two processes of political and military track that he believes will assist in regaining peace in DRC.
“The EAC is in the meantime working on developing a common currency which will enable the member states to trade among themselves easily,” he disclosed.
The East Africa Community (EAC) was the host of this strategy meeting that dove into unveiling the African Economic Strategy and addressed the state of security in Africa especially in the DRC and modalities of sustainable financing of the integration strategy.
By Trepher Leslie and Sylvia Kavisi
