Only few days remaining to the implementation of the East African Community (EAC) Common Market Protocol, Burundians ate still behind with regard to business opportunities and access to services. Mr. Jean Rigi, Burundian Permanent Secretary in the ministry in charge of EAC Affairs added that behavioural change takes time.

He however said, if Burundian wants to be competitive in EAC region, they have to change their behaviour and work more hours like others. He appealed to local traders to work in association and mobilize adequate finances in a bid to get access to the market with required monetary strength.

The five East African Community partner states that is Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda will from July 1 implement the EAC Common Market Protocol. The code of procedure entails free movement of people and goods in the region.