ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the status of regional integration (RI) processes by identifying the challenges and prospects of Regional Trade Agreements for Tanzania, namely, the East African Community (EAC), Southern African Development Community (SADC), Common Market for Eastern and Central African States (COMESA) and others. It examines the investment links between RI and poverty. Tanzania withdrew from membership of COMESA in 2000 because the government perceived fewer benefits in it compared with the EAC and SADC, and believed that the agendas of these latter organizations were incompatible with that of COMESA. The chapter presents the trade links. It provides industry perspectives on the efficacy of intraregional trade and investment in poverty reduction. The chapter also examines routes through which RI affects poverty, paying attention to the various socio economic programmes implemented in a regional context. The donors have withdrawn their support since December 2003, following the change of name in 2000 to the RI Facilitation Forum.
