(DTIS) Update, Volume 1 – Main report - Enhanced Integrated ...

cumbersome compared to international and even regional practices, particularly concerning the length ofclearance formalities and the multiplicity of institutions of control at the port in Bujumbura. This meansthat efforts are still needed to comply with the EAC’s 2004 Customs Management Act (CMA). In thisregard, a number of measures have been recommended to facilitate intra-regional trade, like theestablishment of a one-stop window to streamline transit and customs formalities, or the introduction ofcompetition in the selection of companies for preshipment inspection (World Bank 2011b). In recentyears, positive trade facilitation measures have included the partial computerization of customs since2004 and the adoption of ASYCUDA ++ (UNCTAD 2010), as well as the extension of customs hours(Republic of Burundi 2011b). The newly-created Revenue Authority (OBR), which is in charge ofcustoms administration, will be a critical actor of this improvement process in the future and initiatedefforts to establish one-stop border posts, with support from TradeMark East Africa.Limited progress has been achieved by Burundi on the specific issue of EAC standardization. Theharmonization of standards and technical regulations is a core element of regional integration requiredby EAC law, and the elaboration of numerous East African Standards (EAS) started before Burundi’saccession to the Community 56 . Despite the good progress made on this issue at the diplomatic level, theconcrete implementation of this agenda since 2005 has been slow in all member countries. This isnotably due to a general lack of awareness (of both public and private actors) and to severe capacity andresources constraints at the national and regional levels (Mugisa et al. 2009). The exclusive focus ondeveloping common standards (as opposed to more pragmatic options like favoring the mutualrecognition of national standards) has also been blamed for the limited results (World Bank 2008a;World Bank / IFC 2011). Nevertheless, Burundi lags behind EAC partners, even if a law onstandardization and quality assurance was passed in the end of 2010 to strengthen the national systemand facilitate compliance with EAC requirements. The national bureau of standards (Bureau Burundaisde Normalisation et Contrôle de la Qualité – BBN) has never had the necessary technical capacity andfinancial, human and material resources to carry out its mission effectively to this date. It has also beenargued that Burundian entrepreneurs still have limited interest in standardization and quality assurance,due to the absence of such requirements to do business in the domestic market (Yamuremye et al. 2011).Some technical assistance to support the BBN and facilitate the implementation of the standardizationand quality agenda in Burundi has been provided in the framework of several projects (TradeMark EastAfrica’s Burundi program, World Bank’s Private Sector Development project, ONUDI project onagribusiness and SPS compliance), but conforming with all the EAC standards remains a challengingprogram for Burundi.Overall, the institutional capacity dedicated to the integration process in Burundi is weak. Keyinstitutions, such as the MEAC, OBR and customs, or BBN, do not currently have the adequate technicalcapacity and resources to fully participate in regional meetings, defend their country’s interests innegotiations and steer the implementation of numerous commitments. This is compounded by thelanguage barrier, due to the fact that English is the working language of the EAC. All this couldundermine Burundi’s credibility and marginalize the country in the integration process. Several technicalassistance and capacity-building sources are already available (e.g. PAGE, TradeMark East Africa 57 ), butsupport will continue to be needed in the coming years. Concerning the specific issue of language, thePRSP II recognizes that “bilingualism appears to be the way forward for Burundi, as the country is a linkbetween the EAC and francophone Africa”. In accordance with this vision, the authorities shoulddevelop English proficiency nation-wide and develop bilingualism as a comparative advantage.56 The EAC Treaty (Art.81) provides for cooperation among partner states in standardization, quality assurance,metrology and testing (SQMT). An SQMT Act was adopted by the Community in 2006. See http://eac-quality.net/57 In 2011 for example, TMEA undertook various support activities for the MEAC (e.g. technical assistance toprepare regional negotiations, English language training, procurement of material and internet access, outreachtowards stakeholders to increase awareness about regional integration).52 / 153