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India’s Trade Integration with the East African Community: Present Scenario and Future Potentials
Journal of Humanities & Social Science (JHSS),
Vol. 5 No. 2 (2016)
Abstract
Since the initiation of economic reforms in 1991, India adopted an outward-oriented
strategy for development. After the inception of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in
1995, the country initially relied on multilateral trade reforms for export growth, but
slow progress of the Doha Round negotiations over the last decade caused it to explore
the regional trade agreements (RTAs) route as well from 2003-04 onwards. While in the
initial period India focused on deeper trade relationship with Asian partners—namely,
the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan, South Korea, etc.—as
preferential trade allies, the perceived need to diversify the export markets has led the
country to focus on potential trade partners in Africa, Europe, North and Latin America
as well in recent times. On the other hand, the economies of East Africa are also
embracing the RTA route for their trade promotion, and the growing Indian market
offers an opportunity for them as well. The present analysis attempts to understand the
trade potential between the five East African Community (EAC) countries and India in the
sphere of merchandise and services trade by looking through various trade indices. The
empirical results indicate that bilateral trade between the two regions have a strong
potential, which can be aided further through policy reforms at both ends.
Keywords
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- Barka, H. B. 2011. India‘s Economic Engagement with Africa. Africa Economic Brief, 2(6). The African
- Development Bank Group.
- Baynton-Glen, S. 2012. Africa-India trade and investment – Playing to strengths. Standard
- Chartered Bank, On the Ground, August 8.
- Collier, P. 2012. Emerging East Africa: Achievements and Goals of the East African Community. in
- Hamid R. Davoodi (eds.), The East African Community After Ten Years: Deepening Integration, pp.
- –15, Washington DC: International Monetary Fund,
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- Trade and Investment for Development. CII and WTO, New Delhi and Geneva.
- Chaisse, J., D. Chakraborty & B. Nag. 2011. The Three-pronged Strategy of India's Preferential
- Trade Policy - A Contribution to the Study of Modern Economic Treaties, Connecticut Journal of
- International Law, 26(2): 415–455.
- Chakraborty, D. 2014a. The Upcoming Indo-ASEAN CECA: Of Great Expectations and Areas of
- Concern. China Report, 50(3): 259–276.
- —. 2014b. The Economic Aspects of India‘s Foreign Policy. in Amitabh Mattoo and Happymon
- Jacob (Eds.), India and the Contemporary International System: Theory, Policy and Structure.
- pp. 157–193, Australia India Institute Foreign Policy Series 3, Australia India Institute and
- Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Manohar, New Delhi.
- Chakraborty, D. & A. U. Khan. 2008. The WTO: Deadlocked: Understanding the dynamics of
- international trade, New Delhi: Sage.
- Chakraborty, D. & D. Sengupta. 2005. Learning through Trading? India‘s Decade Long Experience
- at WTO. South Asian Survey, 12(2): 223–246.
- East African Community Secretariat. 2009a. The East African Community Common Market (Free
- Movement of Persons) Regulations. Annex I, EAC, Arusha, Tanzania.
- —. 2009b. The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Workers)
- Regulations. EAC, Annex II, Arusha, Tanzania.
- —. 2009c. The East African Community Common Market (Right of Establishment) Regulations.
- EAC, Annex III, Arusha, Tanzania.
- Fergusson, I. F. 2011. World Trade Organization Negotiations: The Doha Development Agenda.
- Congressional Research Service, Washington DC.
- Government of India. 2012. Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTPI-LDC) Scheme announced by India
- for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). New Delhi.
- Hayter, R. & D. W. Edgington. 2004. Flying Geese in Asia: The Impacts of Japanese MNCs as a
- Source of Industrial Learning. Tijdschriftvoor Economischeen Sociale Geografie, 95(1): 3–26.
- International Trade Centre. 2014. ITC to Help Boost Trade Between East Africa and India. March 9,
- ITC, Geneva.
- —. undated. Trade Map. Available at http://www.trademap.org/ (last accessed on January16, 2015).
- Joshi, R. M., B. Nag & A. Gupta. 2012. India‘s Export Opportunity in Africa: Issues and Challenges
- in Select Sectors. IIFT Working Paper No. 18, New Delhi and Kolkata.
- Kallummal, M., A. Gupta & A. Das. 2013. Utilising India‘s Duty Free Preference Scheme for LDCs:
- Analysis of the Trade Trends. Working Paper No. 10, Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute
- of Foreign Trade, New Delhi.
- Khan, H. R. 2012. Outward Indian FDI – Recent Trends & Emerging Issues. Address delivered by
- Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India at the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry,
- Mumbai, March 2.
- Ladegaard, P. 2012. Improving the Investment Climate in the East African Community: Using the
- Doing Business Surveys to Prioritize and Promote Reform. in Hamid R. Davoodi (eds.), The East
- African Community After Ten Years: Deepening Integration, pp. 95–105, International Monetary
- Fund, Washington DC.
- McAuliffe, C., S. C. Saxena & M. Yabara. 2012. The East African Community: Prospects for
- Sustained Growth. IMF Working Paper No. WP/12/272, Washington DC.
- Toye, J. & R. Toye. 2003. The Origins and Interpretation of the Prebisch-Singer Thesis. History of
- Political Economy, 35(3): 437–67.
- United States Trade Representative. 2014. National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade
- Barriers. Washington DC.
- World Bank (WB). undated. World Integrated Trade Solution. Available at http:// wits. worldbank.
- org/ (last accessed on January16, 2015).
- World Trade Organization (WTO). 2014. World Tariff Profiles 2014. Geneva: WTO
References
Barka, H. B. 2011. India‘s Economic Engagement with Africa. Africa Economic Brief, 2(6). The African
Development Bank Group.
Baynton-Glen, S. 2012. Africa-India trade and investment – Playing to strengths. Standard
Chartered Bank, On the Ground, August 8.
Collier, P. 2012. Emerging East Africa: Achievements and Goals of the East African Community. in
Hamid R. Davoodi (eds.), The East African Community After Ten Years: Deepening Integration, pp.
–15, Washington DC: International Monetary Fund,
Confederation of Indian Industry and World Trade Organization. 2013. India-Africa: South-South
Trade and Investment for Development. CII and WTO, New Delhi and Geneva.
Chaisse, J., D. Chakraborty & B. Nag. 2011. The Three-pronged Strategy of India's Preferential
Trade Policy - A Contribution to the Study of Modern Economic Treaties, Connecticut Journal of
International Law, 26(2): 415–455.
Chakraborty, D. 2014a. The Upcoming Indo-ASEAN CECA: Of Great Expectations and Areas of
Concern. China Report, 50(3): 259–276.
—. 2014b. The Economic Aspects of India‘s Foreign Policy. in Amitabh Mattoo and Happymon
Jacob (Eds.), India and the Contemporary International System: Theory, Policy and Structure.
pp. 157–193, Australia India Institute Foreign Policy Series 3, Australia India Institute and
Regional Centre for Strategic Studies, Manohar, New Delhi.
Chakraborty, D. & A. U. Khan. 2008. The WTO: Deadlocked: Understanding the dynamics of
international trade, New Delhi: Sage.
Chakraborty, D. & D. Sengupta. 2005. Learning through Trading? India‘s Decade Long Experience
at WTO. South Asian Survey, 12(2): 223–246.
East African Community Secretariat. 2009a. The East African Community Common Market (Free
Movement of Persons) Regulations. Annex I, EAC, Arusha, Tanzania.
—. 2009b. The East African Community Common Market (Free Movement of Workers)
Regulations. EAC, Annex II, Arusha, Tanzania.
—. 2009c. The East African Community Common Market (Right of Establishment) Regulations.
EAC, Annex III, Arusha, Tanzania.
Fergusson, I. F. 2011. World Trade Organization Negotiations: The Doha Development Agenda.
Congressional Research Service, Washington DC.
Government of India. 2012. Duty Free Tariff Preference (DFTPI-LDC) Scheme announced by India
for Least Developed Countries (LDCs). New Delhi.
Hayter, R. & D. W. Edgington. 2004. Flying Geese in Asia: The Impacts of Japanese MNCs as a
Source of Industrial Learning. Tijdschriftvoor Economischeen Sociale Geografie, 95(1): 3–26.
International Trade Centre. 2014. ITC to Help Boost Trade Between East Africa and India. March 9,
ITC, Geneva.
—. undated. Trade Map. Available at http://www.trademap.org/ (last accessed on January16, 2015).
Joshi, R. M., B. Nag & A. Gupta. 2012. India‘s Export Opportunity in Africa: Issues and Challenges
in Select Sectors. IIFT Working Paper No. 18, New Delhi and Kolkata.
Kallummal, M., A. Gupta & A. Das. 2013. Utilising India‘s Duty Free Preference Scheme for LDCs:
Analysis of the Trade Trends. Working Paper No. 10, Centre for WTO Studies, Indian Institute
of Foreign Trade, New Delhi.
Khan, H. R. 2012. Outward Indian FDI – Recent Trends & Emerging Issues. Address delivered by
Deputy Governor, Reserve Bank of India at the Bombay Chamber of Commerce & Industry,
Mumbai, March 2.
Ladegaard, P. 2012. Improving the Investment Climate in the East African Community: Using the
Doing Business Surveys to Prioritize and Promote Reform. in Hamid R. Davoodi (eds.), The East
African Community After Ten Years: Deepening Integration, pp. 95–105, International Monetary
Fund, Washington DC.
McAuliffe, C., S. C. Saxena & M. Yabara. 2012. The East African Community: Prospects for
Sustained Growth. IMF Working Paper No. WP/12/272, Washington DC.
Toye, J. & R. Toye. 2003. The Origins and Interpretation of the Prebisch-Singer Thesis. History of
Political Economy, 35(3): 437–67.
United States Trade Representative. 2014. National Trade Estimate Report on Foreign Trade
Barriers. Washington DC.
World Bank (WB). undated. World Integrated Trade Solution. Available at http:// wits. worldbank.
org/ (last accessed on January16, 2015).
World Trade Organization (WTO). 2014. World Tariff Profiles 2014. Geneva: WTO