East Africa: EABC advised to join EPA trade talks
Tanzania Daily News | 7 December 2009
EABC Aadvised to join EPA trade talks
Finnigan Wa Simbeye
Dar Es Salaam — THE private sector in East Africa should join trade negotiations between the European Commission and East African Community through the regional secretariat.
European Union Delegation to Tanzania Head of Economics, Governance and Regional Integration, Stefan Schleuning told ’Daily News’ in Dar es Salaam over the weekend that the private sector through East African Business Council (EABC) should be participating in economic partnership agreement negotiations.
"The EABC shares the same premises with East African Community and should be able to participate in EPA negotiations," said Mr Schleuning.
The EABC which is an apex body grouping private sector national associations from all five member states, has an ad hoc status at the EAC secretariat.
The EABC Executive Director, Mr Charles Mbogori, said earlier last week that there has been little progress in EPA negotiations between the EC and EAC because the private sector has been sidelined.
Press reports quoted Mr Mbogori as saying that the peripheral role accorded to the private sector in the EPA negotiating process is a factor hindering progress.
The EC and EAC who signed a framework EPA deal in November 2007 have been deadlocked on the future of trade in goods and development cooperation between the two sides.
The EC, which has been supporting capacity development of the private sector in Tanzania, is currently undertaking an evaluation after the 3 million Euros Non State Actors Support Project ended officially last October.
"May be in future we will have to treat the private sector and activists through two different windows," said Schleuning.
