South Sudan’s application to join the East African Community will be verified at a cost of $236,100.

A breakdown shows that a total of $177,300 shall be factored in during the next financial year’s budget and $58,800 will be reallocated internally in the current 2011/2012 financial year.

Official documents seen by The EastAfrican indicate that the preparatory work that includes constitution of the team, orientation and preparation of the country profile will kick off in mid-May.

The verification exercise and preparation of the final report will start in June and end in July. Submission of the verification report to the Council will done in August.

The verification process aims to establish South Sudan’s compatibility with EAC standards when it comes to trade liberalisation and development; co-operation in investment and industrial development.

Other issues to be verified are the country’s co-ordination in monetary and financial matters; the development of infrastructure and services; the development of human resources and the development of agriculture and natural resources.

Summit

EAC heads of state last week directed the Council of Ministers to come up with a verification report by November, regarding South Sudan’s request for admission into the five-nation regional bloc.

Presidents Mwai Kibaki of Kenya (Summit chairman), Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Burundi’s First Vice President Therence Sinunguruza also expressed their concern about the current Sudan-South Sudan standoff.

(Read: Mission to Juba: The inside story of a man under siege)
The oil revenue dependent nations of Sudan and South Sudan are currently embroiled in an escalating armed conflict over oil.
“We urge leaders of the two countries to return to the negotiating table for a peaceful resolution,” said Richard Sezibera, EAC secretary general.

Benefits

Considering that South Sudan has about 13 million people, its entry will expand the bloc to 153 million people — a figure that will be attractive to investors.

Juba’s admission will also have a big impact on the region’s economy by reducing EAC partner state’s current dependence on oil supplies from the Gulf, whose cost has been rising in recent years.

South Sudan could further benefit from the EAC’s move to harmonise tariffs and open borders for trade among its five members — Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Kenya and Tanzania. Favourable market conditions have spurred labour migration and export of goods and services within the region.

There is also great potential for achieving regional food security through regional integration.

(Read: S. Sudan has major reserves to offer EAC)

Uganda, Tanzania and South Sudan are capable of producing surplus food and have been trading staples such as sorghum, maize and beans across their borders.

An expanded EAC could revitalise foreign direct investment in all the nations in other critical avenues besides oil such as the transport sector, real estate, telecommunications and the industrial sector.

(Read: OBBO: South Sudan, Ethiopia are the kind of guys EAC needs)