THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY (EAC) AND ITS INFLUENCE ON TANZANIA’S MANUFACTURED EXPORTS INTENSITY AND COMPETITIVENESS

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between the revived EAC and both export intensity and competitiveness of Tanzania’s manufactured exports in the East African region. The study uses simple descriptive statistics, which is later supplemented with export intensity and export competitiveness models (also termed as indices) to determine the dynamics and competitiveness of Tanzania’s intra-EAC manufactured exports.  Manufactured export intensity is above 100 whereas export competitiveness is found to have increased but below unit since the establishment of the current EAC. Concerted efforts should be taken within both, Tanzania and the EAC as a whole so as to improve the situation. The conclusions point out that EAC is liable to be useful if supply side and market access related constraints are unanimously eradicated.