EAC Trade and Investment Report 2017: Accelerating Market-Driven Integration

Abstract

The annual EAC Trade and Investment Report is a critical tool to facilitate informed decision making by Partner States and other stakeholders on trade and investment matters in the East African Community. It also facilitates strategies to unleash the region's growth potential. The Trade and Investment Report 2017, prepared in collaboration with Partner States, highlights the achievements, challenges and trends in Trade and Investment in the region. The Republic of South Sudan joined the Community in 2016, and the Secretariat has drawn a clear roadmap for integration of the Republic of South Sudan in all EAC projects and programmes. In 2017, the EAC Secretariat and Partner States continued to consolidate the achievements of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) by widening its scope. Coverage of goods cleared was expanded to include all intra-regional trade to facilitate free movement of goods within the Community. Eliminating duplication of customs processes resulted in drastic reduction of the period taken to clear and transport goods in the Central and Northern corridors.