New EABC chairman promises to tackle NTBs

The new East African Business Council (EABC) chairman has promised to push for a review of the common external tariff and the harmonization of domestic taxes in the region.

Econie Nijimbere, a Burundian was elected as board chairman, taking over from Dennis Karera, who has served since 2015.

Nijimbere who has been serving as vice chair was elected at the 17th annual general meeting held at the Radisson Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, on the 27th of May 2016.

During his acceptance speech, Nijimbere outlined key areas that his tenure will focus on especially on highlighting gaps and discrepancies in the implementation of the East African community customs union and common market protocols.

"(These) are hindering East Africans from enjoying advantages presented by East African Community integration and the wider EAC common market," noted Nijimbere in a statement.

Nijimbere also promised pushing for the elimination of the persistent non-tariff barriers (NTBs) and harmonization of East African standards.

The region though quickly integrating faces recurrences of trade blockades, barriers and lack of harmony on already agreed positions even on issues liberalization of trade in services, telecommunication, and domestication of EAC air space, free movement of business persons and harmonisation of work  

The new executive has also promised to push for regional anti counterfeit policy and law, implementation of World Trade Organization agreement on trade facilitation and sectoral issues such as agriculture, tourism, textile, leather, sugar industry, health and iron and steel sub sectors.

Nijimbere is currently the president of Burundi federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CFCIB and also served as president of the Burundi Manufacturers Association as well as board Member of the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR).