Working Paper
Regional opportunities in East Africa

Significant progress has been made by the East African Community partner states in implementing the East African Community customs union. Trade within the East African Community is now free from import duties, and partner states have adopted a three-band common external tariff.

This paper assesses how the customs union has supported intraregional trade and industrialization, in particular through the development of competitive smokestack-free industries. It concludes that regional integration has provided a support environment for the development of smokestack-free industries, but significant opportunities still exist within the region. Recommendations are provided on what should be done to harness these opportunities.