Outgoing Germany Ambassador pays courtesy farewell visit on the Secretary General
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 16 June 2017:
The outgoing German Ambassador to the United Republic of Tanzania and the East African Community, H.E Egon Kochanke, on Thursday 15th June 2017, paid a courtesy farewell visit on the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania. H.E Egon Kochanke will be returning to Germany in June 2017 after three years’ tour of duty.
Addressing the Secretary General, Amb. Kochanke, who was accompanied by Dr. Helmut Schon, the Director of KfW Office in Dar es Salaam and Bernd Multhaup, the outgoing Head of GiZ-EAC Integration Office in Arusha, said he was proud to be associated with the positive developments taking place in the regional integration agenda.
The outgoing Ambassador said he was happy to have witnessed the construction of the EAC Headquarters and its official opening by the EAC Heads of State in November 2012. The German government contributed fully to the construction of the USD18.8m office complex.
He said during his tenure, he had great interaction with the EAC Secretariat and the Executive staff that made his work easier. He said he was contented with the German contribution to the Health and Education sectors, which were very critical in the livelihood of the East African citizens.
Amb. Konchake said he was leaving the region when peace and security was improving in both Burundi and the Republic of South Sudan.
The Ambassador disclosed that the business community in Germany were now viewing the EAC as a huge market, “for example the German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) will soon set up production plant in Kenya as it looks to sell more vehicles across the entire East African region and beyond“.
On his part, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, who was accompanied by his Deputies in charge of Finance and Administration, Hon. Jesca Eriyo; in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo; and in charge of Planning and Infrastructure, Eng. Stephen Mlote, congratulated his guest upon his successful tour of duty and for strengthening the relations between the EAC and Germany.
“You have been the champion of the EAC integration agenda and your personal support and involvement has been very encouraging to us”, asserted the Secretary General.
Amb. Mfumukeko informed his guest that the Secretariat will continue to stream its activities focusing on a few priorities which will produce results that impact on the lives of the East African citizens.
He said the Secretariat was currently assessing the performance of the 4th EAC Development Strategy as the basis for preparing the 5th Development Strategy.
The Secretary General commended the outgoing Ambassador for being behind some of the milestones in the EAC - Fedral Republic of Germany relations during his term in office.
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Notes to Editor:
During H.E Egon Kochanke’s term in office, the Federal Republic of Germany signed an Intergovernmental Agreement with the East African Community (EAC) to support regional health programmes.
In total, 30 million euros (USD 34 million) were to be invested in vaccines and health supply chain management. German Development Cooperation was also to provide 20 million euros for the procurement of vaccines against different diseases for children in the EAC. The programme is being implemented in collaboration with GAVI. The new commitment brought Germany`s contribution to regional immunisation programmes with the EAC to 60 million euros since 2012.
Germany also made available a grant of 10 million euros to support the establishment of the EAC Regional Centre of Excellence for Health Supply Chain Management.
The Federal Republic of Germany and the East African Community (EAC) also signed a Government Agreement of 7 million euros on Tuesday, December 6th 2016. The Secretary General of the East African Community Ambassador Liberat Mfumukeko signed on behalf of the Community while His Excellency Egon Kochanke, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Republic of Tanzania and also accredited to the East African Community signed on behalf the Germany Government.
Out of the 7 million euros, 3 million euros (in technical assistance) was to be invested in strengthening the pandemic preparedness of the region. The project was to support the operationalization of the EAC Regional Contingency Plan and a Regional Risk and Crisis Communication Strategy.
The other 4 million euros (in technical assistance) was to be invested in an Academic Center for Digital Innovation. The project was to support the set-up of a State of the Art Master programme focusing on embedded and mobile systems at an East African University, supporting the development of a skilled labor force in East Africa.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.