East african community: 20 years of regional integration

The study is important because of the relevance of the analysis of regional economic integration processes in developing countries, especially in Africa, in the context of growing global instability and protectionist trends in world trade. On the other hand, integration into the world economy for African countries is significantly facilitated with the support of partner countries in the integration bloc. The author analyzed statistical data from the international database of UNCTAD on the main macroeconomic indicators of socio-economic and integration development of the EAC countries since 2000, the year of the creation of the East African community.

The author has revealed that socio-economic and integration processes within the framework of the East African community have developed steadily and steadily. This was reflected both in the growth of GDP and per capita income, as well as intraregional trade. In addition to quantitative indicators, we can also talk about qualitative changes, such as the gradual transformation of the industry structure of the EAC countries – from mainly agricultural to service and, to a lesser extent, industrial. Among the problems, the author highlights the high differentiation and low level of development of market structures, as well as the duplicate membership of the EAC countries in other regional economic communities. These and other problems make it difficult to further develop the complete Common market of the East African community. This research makes a significant contribution to understanding the nature and features of integration processes in the East African community.

Keywords

East African community, EAC, regional economic integration, Customs Union, Common market, intraregional trade

Publication date

23.06.2020

Number of characters

14308

Cite

GOST	Mansour N. East african community: 20 years of regional integration // Asia and Africa Today – 2020. – Issue 5 C. 42-46 [Electronic resource]. URL: https://asaf-today.ru/S032150750009550-7-1 (circulation date: 18.03.2025). DOI: 10.31857/S032150750009550-7
MLA	Mansour, Nassor M. "East african community: 20 years of regional integration." Asia and Africa Today 5 (2020):42-46. DOI: 10.31857/S032150750009550-7
APA	Mansour N. (2020). East african community: 20 years of regional integration. Asia and Africa Today (5), pp.42-46 DOI: 10.31857/S032150750009550-7

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