DRC : NO PROBLEM WITH MULTIPLE MEMBERSHIP TO TRADE BLOCS

 

It says all RECs in Africa were working in harmony to achieve a common market for the continent in 2063

BY GRACE MACHA IN ARUSHA 

The Democratic Republic of Congo  which is aspiring to join the East African Community (EAC) says it has no problem serving under multiple regional economic blocs.

All the regional economic communities (RECs) in Africa are working in harmony to achieve a common market goal for the continent.  

"Multiple membership to various RECs posed no challenge to us", affirmed the deputy prime minister and minister for Foreign Affairs Christophe Lutundula Apala Pen'Apala.

He gave his country's position on Monday in Nairobi at the official launch of the negotiations  for DRC's admission into the East African Community (EAC).

"There is no problem in multiple membership to various RECs. All of them are working in harmony to achieve a common goal for Africa", he said.

That is, he elaborated, was to ensure that Africa becomes a real common market by the year 2063 as envisaged by the African Union. 

This will be the last round of  negotiations between his country and the EAC prior to anticipated entry into the bloc later this year.

DRC, which expects to become EAC's seventh member, currently belongs to various economic blocs in Africa. 

These include, among others, the Southern African Development Community (Sadc) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa). 

The current EAC partner states, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan too - belong to various economic blocs in Africa.

 Mr. Pen’Apala expressed hope that this would be the last round of negotiations before his country is admitted into the six bloc EAC. 

The talks in Nairobi are expected to be concluded within 10 days after which the report would be forwarded to the regional leaders for consideration.

He said DRC was keen to join the EAC in order to attract investments for maximum exploitation of its huge resources and for trade.

"DRC has a big population who are consumers that constitute a big market for the EAC", he told journalists in Nairobi last  week.

Mr.Pen'Apala promised that his country would offer incentives for entrepreneurs who would like to invest in the country.

Kenya's cabinet secretary for EAC Affairs and chairperson of the Council of Ministers, Adan Mohamed lauded the spirit of the negotiations.

"It is good news for a continent that has been performing below its potential in terms of its share of global trade", he said.

EAC boss Peter Mathuki said he expects seamless negotiations with DRC that would result in increased trade and investment opportunities "for the benefit of the people of East Africa".

He added that substantial progress had been made since the Verification Mission visited DRC in the months of June and July last year. 

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