EAST African Community (EAC) Secretariat in collaboration with GIZ plan to conduct sensitization workshop in Mtukula and Sirari borders between April 16 and 17 and 23 and 24 respectively to strengthen communication and sensitization of the community achievements and popularizing integration benefits.

Head of EAC Corporate Communications and Public Affairs, Mr Owora Richard Othieno, pointed out that the workshops targets small traders, young entrepreneurs and women traders and will involve presentations on EAC policies, projects and programmes.

“Special attention will be given to the free movement of goods, capital, persons and labour across EAC Partner States,” reads part of the statement.

He said that the workshops will be complemented by trainings on customs clearing procedures, including payment of taxes and the consequences of crossing the border without a valid travel document.

According to Mr Othieno, training guidelines will be developed to increase knowledge about cross-border trade for the selected target groups.

EAC-GIZ will also be engaging community based media in disseminating EAC information, education and communication as a means of reaching out to more East Africans.

“The potential for cross border trade and related economic impact at border communities are not entirely explored because remote communities have very little or no knowledge of the integration or its benefits,” he noted.

He explained that from the workshops, border communities and the small traders will gain essential skills and knowledge from the best practices and lessons learned in the integration process.

The first round of the sensitization workshops were held between June and July 2014 along the Makamba border, between Burundi and Tanzania, and along the Rusumo border, between Tanzania and Rwanda.

As a result of these workshops, the local communities around those border posts are reaping the rewards from the extended markets on both sides of their borders.

Source: All Africa

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