Regional economic integration has undergone a number of changes in developing countries over the last 25 years. Furthermore, the trend towards globalisation since the 1990s has brought about a new wave of regionalism, which incorporates the view that regional openness can help developing countries move faster in areas where they may not yet be ready for full multilateral liberalisation, as well as giving them a stronger voice in international negotiations. The recent development of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) between the European Union and the different African, Caribbean and Pacific regional groupings, has also given greater emphasis to regional economic integration.

Imani Development has a long record of projects on regional economic integration. Imani staff have worked extensively on closer regional integration throughout Africa, and our clients include COMESA, EAC, ECOWAS, IGAD, IOC, SADC and SACU. We have also undertaken assignments in the Caribbean and Asia. Projects have included:

• development of a Common External Tariff for COMESA
• development of the SADC trade protocol
• support for economic integration in the East African Community
• renegotiation of the Southern African Customs Union Agreement
• assessment of national options for membership of regional economic communities