Development Partners happy with the progress in the integration process

East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 4 February 2010: The 10th EAC Partnership Fund Steering Committee meeting ended today at the Naura Springs Hotel in Arusha Arusha, Tanzania with a firm commendation by both the Development Partners and the Coordination Committee (the technical arm of the EAC Council of Ministers), on the EAC Secretariat for steering effectively and with total commitment the EAC integration process and development. 


The Steering Committee meeting was attended by the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Juma Mwapachu; the Deputy Secretaries General in charge of Finance and Administration, Dr. Julius Tangus Rotich; and that of Productive and Social Sector, Mr. Jean Claude Nsengiyumva; Permanent Secretaries of the Ministries of EAC in the Partner States; 12 Development Partners led by Finland (co-chair); and senior officials from the EAC Secretariat.


While welcoming delegates to the 10th Steering Committee meeting, Amb. Juma Mwapachu underscored the Community’s appreciation to the Development Partners for the continued support to the integration agenda. He said through their support, Partner States were able to conclude negotiations of the EAC Common Market Protocol which led to its signing by the Heads of State on November 20, 2009. Amb. Mwapachu informed the delegates that the Heads of State were all committed to the Common Market Protocol. 


The Secretary General noted that with the support from the friends of EAC, the Community was in the final stages of establishing a Development Fund which will underpin a robust funding mechanism to enable the region address some of the infrastructure deficits bogging the region.


The Chairperson of the EAC Coordination Committee, Dr. Stergomena Tax, on behalf of the Permanent Secretaries present, noted with appreciation the increased amount of support to the EAC from US$645,000 in the financial year 2007/08 to US$6,600,000 in FY 2008/09. She said that was indeed a substantial increase and commended the EAC Secretariat for effectively steering the integration process with tremendous and visible achievements hence winning the confidence of the Donors.


Dr. Stergomena Tax assured the Friends of EAC of Partner States’ commitment to the regional integration as evidenced by implementing a fully fledged Customs Union as of 1st January 2010 and the signing of the Common Market Protocol.  She said for the people of East Africa to benefit as envisaged through these achievements and stages of integration, there is need for strategies, programmes and projects to enable us achieve the intended results in boosting trade and enhancing social-economic prosperity. “It is a huge undertaking that needs massive resources”, affirmed the Chairperson of the Coordination Committee.


The Co-Chair of the Steering Committee, H.E. Ambassador Juhani Toivonen of the Embassy of Finland in the United Republic of Tanzania, said with the milestones so far in place, “it is clear that the East African Community has established itself as perhaps the most dynamic of all the regional economic communities on the Continent”. Adding that “the speed of the integration is high and the political will is strong”.


On behalf of the Development Partners, Amb. Toivonen expressed satisfaction with the improvement being made in the EAC’s internal audit functions, financial management systems, procurement and human resource. He said as the EAC integration diversifies and intensifies, and as simultaneously EAC’s other programmes supported by Development Partners and multilateral institutions increase, the EAC needs to strategically relook at what kind of role the Partnership Fund should play and what direction it should take in the future.


The main purpose of the 10th EAC Partnership Fund Steering Committee meeting was to review progress made in the first half of the financial year 2009/10. During the FY 2009/2010, the Development Partners approved US$8,849,000 mainly to support the Common Market and Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Negotiations; support to EAC communication, publicity and outreach programme; support to fast-track integration of Rwanda and Burundi into the EAC; capacity building of the Secretariat; and support to studies, cross-cutting issues and resource mobilization unit.


According to Article 132 (4) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community, the budget of the Community shall be funded by equal contributions by the Partner States and receipts from regional and international donations and any other sources as may be determined by the Council of Ministers.


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Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania