Success Stories of Investments in the EAC

M-Pesa in Kenya:
In 2007 when M-Pesa came about, financial exclusion was pervasive in Kenya, as was the proliferation of Micro Finance Institutions and Micro-credit savings unions. A significant majority of Kenyans, mainly from lowly penetrated rural areas and low-income earners, were not captured by the incumbent banking institutions. M-Pesa continues to break barriers, in that it is the simplest way to do business in Kenya. As long as you have a Safaricom line you have your future in your hands. With its sister service, M-Shwari, users are now even able to save their money and take loans, all without the much-dreaded waiting hours, charges, vetting and paperwork which for many is the reason they felt left out by traditional banks. It also allows users to pay bills in supermarkets, shops, restaurants and bars as well as utilities such as water and electricity bills at the touch of a button.

Apparel Manufacturing in Kenya:
The African apparel manufacturing sector received a major boost in 2001 when the United States included garments in the list of products eligible for duty-free access to the United States market under AGOA. This provided not only a waiver of US import duties generally in the region of 15-30% ad valorum but also gave African manufacturers a critical advantage over producers located in low-cost countries like China and Bangladesh which faced effective quota constraints and high tariffs on their products when shipped into the United States. Today, the apparel manufacturing sector has demonstrated a measure of resilience and continues to compete in the US market. Leading Sub-Saharan African exporters of apparel are Lesotho, Mauritius, Kenya, Swaziland, Madagascar and Ethiopia.

The Volkswagen Car Assembly Plant:
Europe’s car maker Volkswagen opened an assembly plant in Kigali, Rwanda and East Africans can now drive domestically built cars from the plant.

The ‘first entirely homemade’ smartphone factory in Africa in Rwanda:
The Mara Phone (MaraX and MaraZ) are produced in Rwanda by the Mara Group, a pan-African business headquartered in Dubai.

The development of Liao Shen Industrial Park in Kapeeka:
has contributed significantly to the Uganda’s nation’s industrial development in terms of job creation, government revenue and exports, diversification of the industrial products, attraction of Foreign Direct Investments, and foreign exchange attraction/earning. Newly built factories are skilling Ugandans using sophisticated technology which is being rolled to local manufacturing sector.

BIDCO:
Palm oil growing and processing in Kalangala has transformed the lives of the people in Uganda.

One-Stop Border Posts (OSBPs):
The EAC Treaty under Chapter Fifteen provides for Cooperation in Infrastructure and Services. Lack of coordination among agencies operating at the border posts in EAC was identified as one of the main challenges facing the integration process. The implementation of OSBP is aimed at facilitating cross-border movements through reduction of the time taken in clearance procedures. Along the Kenya borders, Malaba, Busia, Isebania, Namanga, Taveta and Lunga Lunga border posts were selected for this concept. The thirteen (13) OSBPs have been completed and among them Taveta and Namanga, Busia and Malaba are operational. To facilitate the operations of the OSBP, an EAC OSBP Act 2016 was formulated. The Act grants officers from adjourning Partner State right to implement their national laws while operating across the border.

Joint Developments of regional Infrastructure:
The regional infrastructure projects are cross cutting within the EAC integration pillars and the achievements are as follows:
1. Construction of Athi River – Namanga – Arusha road
2. Construction of the Voi – Taveta –Arusha road ---still under construction
3. Design work complete for Malindi – Lunga Lunga – Tanga road
4. Formulation of the EAC Vehicle Load Control Act 2016.