Need to remove trade barriers to spur regional trade

The 14th East African Community Heads of State Summit ended yesterday after three weeks of deliberations. The theme for this year’s EAC summit, “Investing in 21st Century Infrastructure for Deeper Integration,” could not have come at a better time.

The trading bloc is huge and has abundant resources, which if well harnessed could benefit its 130 million people. But poor roads, lack of a railway, cumbersome port procedures at both Mombasa and Dar es Salaam imply trade among the partner States is poor and limited.