East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 20th November, 2018: The 19th edition of the annual East African Community Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition is set for 2nd to 10th December, 2018 at the Eldoret Sports Club in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, Kenya. The theme of the Exhibition is Buy Micro and Small and Medium Enterprises (MSEs) Products, Build East Africa.
The EAC has been undertaking SMEs Development through the East Africa Jua Kali/ Nguvu Kazi exhibition. The exhibition is an annual event that exposes the products manufactured in the region. Organized jointly on a rotational basis by the EAC Secretariat, the East African Confederation of Informal Sector Organisation (EACISO) in collaboration with EAC Partner States, the event brings together artisans from the six (6) EAC Partner States comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda.
The first exhibition was held in Arusha in November 1999 during the historic signing of the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC. Subsequent to the success of the Arusha exhibition, the EAC Heads of State directed that the Exhibition be held annually, on a rotational basis amongst the Partner States so as to enhance economic integration in East Africa.
Marking 19 years to date, the annual exhibition brings together artisans from the East African region for purposes of opening up new market frontiers for their products while bridging the knowledge and technological gaps between them.
According to the Director General Customs and Trade at the EAC Secretariat, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, the theme portrays the role MSEs are expected to play in the growth and development of the region’s economies. Mr. Bagamuhunda disclosed that so far 1,100 artisans have registered and confirmed their participation at the event.
The 19th EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Exhibition will be officially opened on 4th December, 2018.
To participate in the Exhibition, exhibitors from Partner States (Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, Uganda and South Sudan) are required to register with their respective Confederation of Informal Sector Organizations and Ministries of Trade and Industry, while those in Kenya should register with the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority.
During the Exhibition daily symposia will be conducted to build the capacity of the artisans on integration matters as follows:
S/N
Topic
Presenter/ Facilitator
Day
1
Cross Border Trade, Simplified Trade Regime and dealing with NTBs
Republic of Kenya
3rd December, 2018
2
Products value addition
United Republic of Tanzania
5th December, 2018
3
Standards, Quality Assurance, Metrology and Testing (SQMT)
Republic of Rwanda
6th December, 2018
4
Benefits and opportunities from the EAC Integration to SMEs
Republic of Uganda
7th December, 2018
5
EAC Rules of Origin
Republic of Burundi
8th December, 2018
6
MSMES development and opportunities in the Republic of South Sudan
Republic of South Sudan
9th December, 2018
NOTES TO EDITORS:
In order to support promotion of the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi sector of the regional economy, the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Partner States and Confederation of Informal Sector Organization East Africa (CISO-EA) has organized the annual exhibition since 1999. The exhibitions have proved to be strategic avenues for promoting the Small and Micro Enterprises sector’s products, transfer of technologies, and promotion of the regional integration process.
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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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 26th March, 2018:
The East African Community is working overdrive to enhance market access to regional and international markets through a comprehensive export promotion strategy.
The EAC Director General, Customs and Trade, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, said the Community is implementing programmes aimed at promoting and strengthening intra- and inter-regional trade including the implementation of trade facilitation programmes particularly the removal of Non-tariff Barriers (NTBs) to trade.
The DG said that the EAC had prioritized growth in its exports through value addition and capacity building for exporters to enable them know about export requirements especially in the EU.
Mr. Bagamuhunda further said that the Community had put in place mechanisms for the dissemination of applicable trade requirements and trade statistics.
Other measures to promote trade include the harmonization of regional standards and strengthening the performance of exports through the implementation of the EAC Export Promotion Strategy.
Mr. Bagamuhunda said that while the Community had developed a number of key strategies and policies aimed at boosting trade, the biggest challenge was how to implement them.
“The elimination of tariffs is not a problem. The biggest problem is removing Non-tariff Barriers which keep on changing and coming up in different forms,” he said.
On the recently signed African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA), Mr. Bagamuhunda said now was the time to push for the full implementation of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) bringing together EAC, COMESA and SADC.
“The TFTA is the stepping stone to the CFTA because what remains in TFTA is its implementation. The Tripartite constitutes more than 60% of the Africa’s GDP and over half of the continent’s population,” said the DG.
The DG was speaking during the official opening session of a three day workshop convened by the TradeComII Programme at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
The stakeholder workshop which has drawn participants from EAC Partner States, the private sector, youth and women’s organisations, and development partners will discuss presentation on the: Draft EAC Export Promotion Strategy 2017-2022; EAC Framework of Non-Tariff Barriers, and; EAC Simplified Trade Regime for Women and Youth Traders.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Fabio di Stefano, Head of the Infrastructure and Regional Integration Sectors at the European Union Delegation in Tanzania, said the EU’s main focus in working with the EAC was on trade and economic growth in the region.
Mr. Stefano said that political goodwill from EAC leaders will be critical if East Africa was to become integrated economically, adding that reforms to national laws and policies would also be required for the full implementation of protocols and agreements made at the regional level.
Mr. Stefano said some of the key drivers of regional integration in East Africa as has been the case elsewhere were peace and security, and infrastructure development.
NOTE FOR EDITORS:
The EAC Secretariat obtained support to the tune of 300,000 Euros from the ACP-EU through the TradeCom II programme to develop appropriate strategies on export development and the elimination of Non-tariff Barriers inhibiting trade among Partner States and between Partner States and their trading partners.
The strategies address the main constraints relating to the legal, regulating and institutional requirements at both the regional and Member States levels and lack of financial and human resources to accommodate the increased demands related to the implementation of the TFTA and boosting Partner States capacity to supply the European markets through a sound and sustainable export promotion strategy.
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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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 11th December, 2017:
The 18th edition of the annual EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition themed Buy East African Medium and Small Enterprises’ (MSEs) products to build East Africa, came to an end in Bujumbura, Burundi on Sunday, 10th December, 2017.
The exhibition, which attracted 830 artisans from five Partner States – Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, South Sudan and the host country Burundi – ended with a call by the government of Burundi government to the other EAC Partner States to strongly support the private and informal sector in the bloc.
Speaking during the event’s closing ceremony, Burundi’s Assistant Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism, Mr. Nkunzumwami Aimable, said there was need to deliberately support the growth of Jua Kali (informal sector) by giving the necessary and enabling policies that are conducive to enhance opportunities and returns on investment in the informal sector.
Mr. Aimable, who was representing the Minister of Trade, Industry and Tourism, challenged the artisans not to wait for another Jua Kali exhibition opportunity in Burundi but to use this opportunity to network and open up stalls in Bujumbura and other parts of the country so that their products can be easily accessed in the country.
“Don’t just sit and wait for the annual exhibitions, venture out and explore opportunities available in all the Partner States”, the governments are ready to support you,” said the Minister to the participants.
He said the prevailing peace and security in Burundi was good for the East African citizens to invest or tour the country.
Addressing the same occasion, the EAC Director of Trade, Alhaj Rashid Kibowa, said the exhibition had offered a very good opportunity for the artisans to enhance competitiveness and increase employment, thereby accelerating the region’s sustainable economic growth and reducing poverty.
He acknowledged the role played by the informal sector in the economies of the Partner States in terms of employment creation and income generation.
Alhaj Kibowa said that the sector contributes to the resilience of the regional economy by promoting industrialization through the utilization of the available raw materials, and as a player in the backward and forward value chain linkages the big manufacturing firms.
Kibowa commended the Partner States and EAC Confederation of Informal Sector Organizations (CISO) for partnering with the Secretariat in organizing the annual exhibitions. He also commended the EAC Steering Committee for the successful preparations of the event.
The Deputy Patron of the CISO, Mr. Keli Kiilu rooted for the institutionalization of the EAC CISO/Jua Kali-Nguvu Kazi week in the Community in order to recognize the critical role the sector plays in the Partner State’s economies but also to dedicate time for CISO /Jua Kali-Nguvu Kazi activities during that period.
Meanwhile several dignitaries visited the EAC exhibition stand during the one –week-long event to learn about the regional integration agenda. Among them was the First Lady Rev. Denise Nkurunziza, who spoke fluent Kiswahili.
Others included the Secretary General of the Government, Hon. Philippe Nzobonariba; Hon. Felix Mpozeriniga, Minister of Public Service, Labour and Employment; Hon. Dr. Josiane Nijimbere, Minister of Public Health; Mr. Nduati Mwangi, Kenya’s Principal Secretary for Industry; several government officials and Ambassadors and High Commissioners accredited to the Republic of Burundi.
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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.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 7th December 2017:
The First Vice President of the Republic of Burundi, H. E. Gaston Sindimwo today graced the official opening ceremony of the 18th EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition taking place at the Jardin Public in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The 18th edition of the annual EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition themed Buy East African Medium and Small Enterprises’ (MSEs) products to build East Africa has attracted over 800 artisans from five EAC Partner States (Uganda, Kenya, United Republic of Tanzania, Republic of South Sudan and the host country Burundi).
Addressing government Ministers, EAC Ambassadors accredited to Burundi, officials and artisans present, on behalf of His Excellency Pierre Nkurunziza, the First Vice President said the 18thJua Kali exhibition came at a time when the Republic of Burundi was consolidating peace and stability, and the population of Burundi including the Jua Kali artisans were proudly going about their daily activities without fear of their security or any hindrance.
“There is now peace in each corner of the country and our Government is striving for the edification of a stable, modern and unified country”, affirmed H.E Sindimwo, adding that, “let your presence here bear witness of the peace prevailing in Burundi”.
“The country and its people are ready to move forward and we are inviting the East Africans and the international community to come and live or invest in our country, your security and investments are guaranteed by the government, so feel free to come to Burundi and explore opportunities,” declared the First Vice President.
“We feel that the East African leaders have to ensure that our integration agenda is strongly erected on peace building, which is a prerequisite that unifies all of us in the edification of a strong East African Community”.
The First Vice President noted that one of the biggest challenges to growth of the Micro and Small Enterprises and industries in EAC was lack of an elaborate and clear supportive policy framework in all the Partner States meant to, among others, create MSEs Authority or Ministries that will oversee the development and promotion of small businesses, as promoting indigenous business growth in the EAC region was an urgent matter.
Addressing the same occasion, the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko said hosting and providing a lot of support to this year’s Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition in Bujumbura was a true demonstration and commitment by the Republic of Burundi to the EAC integration agenda.
He disclosed that EAC had made Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi a priority in its successive Development Strategies specifically to promote Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector in recognition of the role they play within the economies of the Partner States in regard to employment creation and income generation.
The Secretary General informed his audience that the Community was continuing to make substantial inroads in the regional integration process for example implementation of the Single Customs Territory (SCT) had recorded reduction in the times taken to clear goods at the ports of entry into the region and also movement of cargo within the bloc. The Single Customs Territory had eliminated multiple clearances at internal borders and this improved situation were presenting an opportunity for SMEs to take advantage of the duty free market in EAC and also create competition from cheaper imported products.
Amb. Mfumukeko also disclosed that the Community intends to rebrand and repackage the Jua Kali Nguvu Kazi through an online platform in order to create continuous connectivity between the members.
“This will create an online network of SMEs and consumers, which will improve the markets of their products and also open up our SMEs to foreign markets and innovations”. The programme will later expand to include critical areas of financing, standards and capacity building. We will start with this exhibition by developing an online catalogue of exhibitors and their products so that there is exchange of information through a dedicated portal at regional level”, disclosed Amb. Mfumukeko
The Secretary General commended the Partner States, Confederation of Informal sector Organization, Regional and National Steering Committees, and the EAC Secretariat staff for the successful organization of the event.
Present at the official opening ceremony were, among others, Honourable Ministers of Trade and that of the Office of the President Responsible for EAC Affairs; the EAC Deputy Secretary General for Planning and Infrastructure, Eng. Mlote; the Director General of EAC Customs and Trade Directorate, Mr Kenneth Bagamuhunda; Ambassadors and High Commissioners from the EAC; Permanent Secretaries; Chairperson and members of the East African Confederation of Informal Sector Organization (EACISO); and Representatives from various institutions
In order to support promotion of the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi sector of the regional economy, the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Partner States and Confederation of Informal Sector Organization East Africa (CISO-EA) has organized the annual exhibitions since 1999. The exhibitions have proved to be strategic avenues for promoting the sector’s products, transfer of technologies, and promotion of the regional integration process.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 1st December 2017:
The 18th edition of the annual EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi Exhibition is set for 4th to 10th December 2017 at the Jardin Public in Bujumbura, Burundi. The theme of the Exhibition is “Buy East African Medium and Small Enterprises’ (MSEs) products to build East Africa” and portrays the role of East Africans in building their economy. Over 1,000 artisans have so far registered and confirmed their participation in the event.
The 18th EAC Jua Kali/Nguvu Exhibition will be officially opened on 6th December 2017.
To participate in the Exhibition, exhibitors from Tanzania, Burundi, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda are required to register with the respective Ministries of Trade and Industry, while those in Kenya must register with the Small and Medium Enterprises Authority.
In order to support promotion of the Jua Kali/Nguvu Kazi sector of the regional economy, the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Partner States and Confederation of Informal Sector Organization East Africa (CISO-EA) has organized the annual exhibitions since 1999. The exhibitions have proved to be strategic avenues for promoting the sector’s products, transfer of technologies, and promotion of the regional integration process.
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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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 17 July 2017:
The Republic of Madagascar has become the 20th country to sign the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement. The agreement brings together three regional economic communities-COMESA, EAC and SADC- into a single free trade area. The Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) constitutes 57% of Africa’s population with a combined GDP of US$1.3 trillion as of 2015, making it one of the largest free trade areas in the world.
The Tripartite Agreement was signed on Thursday 13th July 2017 by His Excellency Mahafaly Solonandrasana Olivier, Prime Minister of the Republic of Madagascar, on behalf of the Government, in Antananarivo, Madagascar.
The signing ceremony was witnessed by Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya, the Secretary General of COMESA, who represented the Secretary General of the East African Community and the current Chairperson of the Tripartite Task Force, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, and the Secretary General of SADC, Dr. Stergomena. Tax.
In attendance also was Hon. Nourdine Chabany, Minister of Industry and Private Sector representing the Minister of Trade and Consumption of the Republic of Madagascar; the Counsel to the Community, Hon. Dr. Kafumbe Mukasa; senior Government Officials; representatives of the Private Sector; Their Excellencies the Ambassadors of Mauritius and South Africa; as well as the Ambassador designate of the Republic of Madagascar to the African Union.
The European Union was represented by Mr. Lothar Jaschke, Head of of Sector, Political, Press and Information from the EU Delegation in Madagascar.
The Republic of South Africa became the 19th country to sign the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement during the 6th meeting of the Tripartite Sectoral Ministerial Committee of on Trade, Customs, Finance, Economic Matters and Home/Internal Affairs (TSMC) held on 7 July 2017 in Kampala, Uganda.
At the 6th meeting of the Tripartite Sectoral Ministerial Committee, the Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko reported that 18 Member/Partner States had signed the Agreement and that Egypt was the only country to have ratified it. A total of 14 ratifications are required for the Agreement to enter force.
Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko informed the meeting that South Africa and Madagascar were ready to sign the Agreement and encouraged the remaining countries to follow suit. South Africa subsequently signed the Agreement in Kampala.
At that Kampala meeting, the Secretary General reported progress on the legal scrubbing of Annexes II, IV and X, negotiations on tariff offers and the signature and ratification of the Agreement.
Amb. Mfumukeko indicated that there had been limited progress on Phase II negotiations and the Agreement on the Movement of Business Persons. However, studies on Phase II issues had been undertaken and disseminated and that TTF was in the process of mobilizing resources to facilitate the necessary consultative meetings.
At the 6th meeting of the Tripartite Sectoral Ministerial Committee, Uganda’s Minister of Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, Hon. Amelia Kyambadde, stated that the intra-Tripartite trade was only 19% of the continent’s $930 billion total trade and this could be attributed to low industrialization, restricted movement of labour, poor infrastructure and high dependency on the export of unprocessed commodities.
The Minister observed that the Tripartite provided the opportunities to unlock the enormous trade and investment potential of the bloc. In this regard, the business community was waiting anxiously towards the opening up of the market of over 600 million people. She further observed that almost all the Annexes had been finalized save for the built in agenda.
At the same meeting, South Africa’s Minister of Trade and Industry, Hon. Dr. Rob Davies observed that the outstanding Annexes had been concluded and highlighted the need to have a functional FTA that would benefit the business community. He noted that the TFTA was a building block for the Continental FTA, hence the need to make more progress in the TFTA negotiations.
The Kampala meeting was attended by delegates from Angola, Botswana, Burundi, D.R. Congo, Egypt, Kenya, Malawi, Mauritius, Namibia, Rwanda, Seychelles, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
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Notes to Editor:
At the 1st Tripartite Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Kampala in October, 2008 leaders of 26 African countries met and took a bold step to establish the largest trading arrangement in Africa.
The 3rd Tripartite Summit of Heads of State and Government signed the Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) Agreement on 10thJune, 2015 at Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt. The Agreement was expected to come into force 30 days after 14 Tripartite Member/Partner States deposit instruments of ratification. The Tripartite Summit also signed the Sharm el Sheikh Declaration launching the Tripartite FTA and commencement of Phase II of the Tripartite negotiations and adopted a Tripartite FTA Post Signature Implementation Roadmap.
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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 15 May 2017:
The Tripartite Task Force Infrastructure Sub-Committee meeting to consider progress of projects and programmes under the Infrastructure Pillar of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) concluded on 12th May, 2017 in Arusha, Tanzania.
The two-day meeting chaired by the Director of Infrastructure at the EAC Secretariat, Dr Kamugisha Kazaura was attended by the representative from Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the host EAC.
Delivering his opening remarks on behalf of the Secretary General, Dr Kazaura, appreciated the support from the EU for funding the Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Project (TTTFP) from the EDF 11 funding cycle for the next five years. The support will go a long way in facilitating harmonization of the transport standards, regulatory frameworks and specifications in the Eastern and Southern African Region.
The representative of SADC, Mr. Lovemore Bingandadi, thanked the EAC for convening the meeting and reiterated SADC’s commitment to work with COMESA and EAC to accelerate the implementation of the Tripartite Infrastructure programmes.
On his part, Mr. Bernard Dzawanda from COMESA, pledged to work with the other RECs in the implementation of the Tripartite Infrastructure programmes. He lauded the EAC for enacting regional legislation that made it easier for Partner States to implement regional policies and standards and called for replication of the practice across all Tripartite RECs.
The meeting discussed the progress in the implementation of the Tripartite Infrastructure Projects and Programmes in the areas of Tripartite Transport and Facilitation Programme, Corridors Infrastructure Development, Civil Aviation, Maritime Transport, Ports, ICT and Energy. The Tripartite RECs and Member States have developed Tripartite Transport and Transit Facilitation Programme (TTTFP) which has received funding amounting to 18 million Euros under the 11th EDF.
Implementation of the programme is expected to commence in July 2017. It was noted that the lack of an integrated and liberalized road transport market in the East and Southern African (EA-SA) region poses numerous obstacles to trade by causing severe delays and increased transport costs, as well as challenges to road safety and durability. This programme (which builds on previous REC programs) addresses these challenges through the implementation of harmonized road transport policies, laws, regulations, systems and standards that affect drivers, loads, vehicles and road infrastructure in the countries of the EA-SA region.
All REC’s forming the Tripartite have prioritized the development of corridors to facilitate transit transport and expand trade within and between the respective regions.
In the Civil Aviation Sub Sector, the meeting noted that the Tripartite is currently playing the key role in the full implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision and establishment of a single African Air Transport Market as adopted by the African Union Assembly in January 2015. The full liberalization in the Tripartite region will lead to the removal of all restrictions on access, price, frequency and capacity in intra-African Air Transport market, free exercise of the first five freedom rights and the reduction of Air Transport Cost.
The report of the Tripartite Task force Infrastructure Sub-Committee meeting will be considered by the Tripartite Sectoral Committee of Ministers of Infrastructure (TSCMI) scheduled in July 2017.
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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.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 23 March 2017: The East African Community is developing a Regional Training Curriculum to support the operationalization of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs) within the bloc. The training curriculum is a major capacity building tool for OSBPs in the region.
In a 20th - 24th March meeting, with the support of GIZ - African Union Border Program (AUBP), currently underway in Kigali, Rwanda, Partner States’ experts from the Revenue and Immigration Authorities are developing the tool, which aims at training the OSBP officers on the rules and ways to operate in their different positions at their different posts in cooperation and coordination with their different counterparts.
The Regional Training Curriculum looks at how best to allow the different agencies to play their role and work together so as to enhance and accelerate the smooth operationalization of the OSBPs. The curriculum will be based on the existing instruments adopted by the EAC including the OSBP Act, Sourcebook and Manual. It will also take into account the already existing instruments of sensitization and capacity building availed by the other Development Partners of the EAC such as the IOM, JICA and TMEA.
According to the Ag. Director General of the EAC Directorate of Customs and Trade, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda, the development of the curriculum commenced in December 2016 in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, and the Kigali meeting is a continuation of the process, which comes at a time when the Community had successfully developed the OSBP Regulations and OSBP Manual.
“In order to have hands on experience on what happens in an OSBP, prior to the meeting, the delegates’ visited two functioning OSBPs, at Cyanika and Kagitumba/Mirama Hills. The output of the visits to the border posts greatly enhanced the curriculum development process”, noted the Ag. Director General, adding that the Partner States Experts who played a central role in the development of the OSBP Manual were also assisting in the development of the Training Curriculum.
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Notes to Editor:
The operationalisation of OSBPs in the region is not without challenges. Some of the challenges relate to inadequate infrastructure at many of these border posts including housing for staff, amenities such as schools and hospitals, holding grounds for quarantined animals, insufficient water resources and in some cases unreliable power supply and not the least human capacity and skills shortfalls in a number of critical areas.
In order to realize the goal of African integration, there is need to ensure smooth management of borders allowing swift and hustle-free movement of goods, persons, workers and services. This initiative will need to be bolstered by strengthening security measures that halt cross border criminal activities. Moving towards these goals the African Union, through its Border Program (African Union Border Program (AUBP) has encouraged/urged its member states to embrace a smoother management of border crossing points through installation and implementation of One Stop Border Posts (OSBPs).
There are 77 borders in Africa that have been earmarked for OSBP construction with 15 of them being in East Africa Community (EAC). The OSBPs are therefore becoming more popular at the regional level. They are seen as a modern approach towards facilitating movement of goods, persons and services across national borders. The OSBP concept promotes simplification of controls at borders through a one-time check at the border between two countries. In practice, OSBP is achieved by placing the border officials of two adjoining countries at each other’s adjoining border post so that border control checks will be jointly conducted by relevant officers from the two neighbouring countries at once on the side of the entry country. Once such a check has taken place on one side of the border, no other check will follow. Operating OSBPs requires a tight coordinated cooperation between the agencies present at borders including immigration, police, customs, health etc.
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.
East African Court of Justice; Arusha, Tanzania; 15 March 2017: The First Instance Division heard an Application filed by Castro Pius Shirima a Tanzanian resident against the EAC Partner States and the Secretary General. The Applicant is seeking the Court’s order for stay of signing the European Partnership Agreement (EPA). According to the status of the Partner States on the signing of EPA, the Counsels representing the Respondents confirmed that the Republics of Kenya and Rwanda have signed the Agreement. And Kenya has even ratified. However they are asking Court to order the 2 Partner States stay any other pending procedures.
The Applicant’s agent Mr. Moto Matiko Mabanga, submitted that, it is very clear that Kenya and Rwanda have signed the EPA, however they also have to come to an agreement with other EAC Partner States to sign one single document of the Agreement. He also said that the Republic of South Sudan as a state which did due diligence before joining the Community and the fact that it is a member of the EAC, makes it automatically part of the negotiation and therefore it cannot say it was not involved in the negotiations.
He further urged that the Community must ensure that it does not fall into the same disagreements and different conclusions by different Partner States which led to the collapse of the previous EAC, but rather achieve the fundamental Principles of the Community, to build a sustainable Community and its economy.
Moto also said that, the legal representatives of the EAC should not be involved into arguing on the technicalities but look at what will sustain the region. He again added that, even if Kenya and Rwanda signed the EPA, due to purposes of Justice, it can be reversed. He finally called Court grant orders as sought.
Mr. Nestor Kayobera representing Burundi submitted that, the Applicant is requesting Court to stop the Partner States which have not signed stay from signing but did not ask for withdrawal of those that have signed already. He further said that, it is the 1st Respondent’s contention that, the Application is not necessary neither desirable in accordance to Article 39 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community on granting of interim orders. Article 39 provides that, “the Court may in a case referred to it make any interim orders or issue any directions which it considers necessary or desirable”
He also added that Burundi as sovereign state will sign EPA at an appropriate time as other Partner States have signed.
Further still, Kayobera submitted that, the Court has set three conditions for granting interim orders; 1) that if the Reference has a pre-mafacie case and a probability of success. That in his view there is no pre-mafacie case and no probability of success; 2) that if the Applicant will suffer irreparable injury, he urged that, the Applicant has not shown court which economic injury he will suffer if the 1ST Respondent signs the EPA; 3) that the other important condition is that the Court will consider the balance of convenience. He also added that the Applicant has not shown why he is requesting for the stay but rather based on his arguments which are speculative. He asked Court to dismiss the Application.
2nd Respondent Kenya represented by Ms. Jenifer Gitiri, submitted that they raised points of pre-preliminary objections pursuant to rule 41 of the EACJ Rules of Procedure; whether the Court has jurisdiction to hear the matter; whether the disputes raised by the Applicant are a dismissible; whether an order of stay should be granted especially for Kenya which has signed the agreement already.
Ms. Gitiri urged that, pursuant to Article 27 (1) of the Treaty which provides that; “Court’s jurisdiction to interpret under this paragraph shall not include the application of any such interpretation to jurisdiction conferred by the Treaty on organs of Partner States”. She further said that the signing of EPA is a Treaty making process which is a mandate of the sovereign state and therefore jurisdiction of the Court does not extend to the sovereignty of the Partner States in EAC.
She also submitted that the process of signing of EPA begun way back in 2004 under the APC African Pacific Caribbean group of states under EU and that mandate was in exercise of their sovereignty as states, that so it cannot be challenged in this court. She again stated that EPA negotiation were made pursuant to Article 37 of the Protocol for the Establishment of EAC Customs Union as well as Article 37(1) of the Protocol for the Establishment of EAC Common market, that therefore it cannot be admissible in this Court.
Ms. Gitiri also urged that Article 130 (3) of the Treaty provides that “with a view to contributing towards the achievement of the objectives of the Community, the Community shall foster co-operative arrangements with other regional and international organizations whose activities have a bearing on the objectives of the Community” She therefore added that when EAC Member States agreed to negotiate on the EPA, they were doing it to foster the activities that are a bearing to the objectives of the Community. That therefore the Applicant cannot purport to stop the functions of the sovereign states in signing this agreement. Again she added that on the 17th Extra-ordinary Summit, the Heads of State discussed the issue and agreed that they will meet at a later time so that other Members which have not signed can sign. She therefore submitted that if the Summit have seized the issue then it is not admissible to this Court.
The 2nd Respondent (Kenya) further contended that according to Article 30 (2) of the Treaty which provides that; “any proceedings must be constituted within two months from the day the Applicant came into the knowledge of the complaint”. She added that the negotiation in EAC started in 2004 and the EAC Member states chose configuration where they will negotiate as the block. From that time the Summit met in 2004 and 2007 and made decision that they will negotiate. That the negotiation were completed in 2014 when the agreement was initiated by the Heads of State which signified the finalization of the EPA negotiation and the Partner states proceeded with the legal translation of the documents and completed in September 2015. She therefore challenged the Applicant that failure to file the dispute within the time limit as stipulated in the Treaty makes the application being time barred and so asked Court to dismiss the Application.
In addition Ms. Gitiri submitted that, the Applicant has not tendered any evidence to Court, how he will be prejudiced by the signing of the EPA. That failure to do that the Application should not be granted.
Mr. Onguso also for the 2nd Respondent added that the Applicant failed to demonstrate the other processes that should be stayed as against the States which have already signed and ratified (Kenya and Rwanda) and also that he failed to show which errors those two Partner States have made by signing the EPA. So in conclusion he said that, on that basis the applicant doesn’t qualify to benefit from the prayers he sought.
The 3rd Respondent (Rwanda), the Counsel Mr. Nicholas Ntarugera submitted that he fully supports the submissions of the 2nd Respondent (Kenya), he went ahead and said that the Applicant has failed to clarify the damages he will suffer from the signing and the Community as whole and that Rwanda signed EPA as its obligation as a Member of EAC. That the un mentioned pending procedures the Applicant is complained of should not be entertained by this court.
The 4th Respondent (South Sudan), represented by Mr. Moses Swake submitted that, RSS was not part of the negotiations which took place before its admission to EAC and that the ruling this Court will deliver will not be binding South Sudan. He furthers added that the Applicant has not exactly mentioned what the issue is but he just said that the EAC Member states are not working together. In his view he said that, the members came together for the benefit of the region and its people.
The 5th Respondent (Tanzania), represented by Mr. Mark Mulwambu submitted that the Applicant has no cause of action against the 5th Respondent. He also said that, Tanzania has not signed EPA and has not indicated that they intend to sign the Agreement, that the allegations by the Applicant don’t have anything substantive and therefore wastage of time and abuse of process and should be dismissed with costs.
The 6th Respondent (Uganda), represented by Elisha Bafirawara, submitted that, they associate themselves with other respondents and also added that looking at the benefits of signing EPA Agreement will bring to the EAC as a region, that they find that to injunct the process of signing will cause a lot of inconvenience to the EAC Partner States and the Applicant will not be affected at all.
The 7th Respondent Secretary General represented by Stephen Agaba, submitted that, the Secretary General disapproves the urgency of the application and that it is based on misinformation and speculation because he did not show the cause of action against the 7th Respondent. He again said that the order sought by the Applicant court to direct the Secretary General to withdraw from negotiations, that the applicant does not know the role of the Secretary General in the negotiations of signing the Agreement.
Agaba still said that, the negotiations are spearheaded by the Heads of State and therefore the SG cannot be directed to withdraw from the negotiations. Further, that there are no negotiations going on, they were concluded and now on the level of signing and ratification and so the 7th Respondent from something that is not taking place. That they find the order sought misplaced and so be dismissed.
The Court will deliver its ruling on notice.
The matter was before Honorable Mr. Justice Isaac Lenaola (Deputy Principal Judge), Honorable Dr. Justice Faustin Ntezilyayo, Honorable Mr. Justice Fakihi A. Jundu
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For more information, please contact:
Yufnalis Okubo, Registrar, East African Court of Justice. Tel: +255 27 2162149 Email: Okubo [at] eachq.org East African Court of Justice Arusha, Tanzania http://www.eacj.org
About the East African Court of Justice:
The East African Court of Justice (EACJ or ‘the Court’), is one of the organs of the East African Community established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community. Established in November 2001, the Court’s major responsibility is to ensure the adherence to law in the interpretation and application of and compliance with the EAC Treaty.
Arusha is the temporary seat of the Court until the Summit determines its permanent seat. The Court’s sub-registries are located in the respective National Courts in the Partner States.
A regional consultative meeting to finalize draft EAC Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) Bill is ongoing in Nairobi, Kenya. The meeting, which was convened by the EAC Secretariat and the USAID East Africa Trade and Investment Hub, is being attended by Partner States’ experts in trade, agriculture, health, livestock, food security, standards, legal, regional integration, and other stake holders.
Presiding over the opening session, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in-charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, highlighted the growing importance of sanitary and phytosanitary measures and noted that SPS had become an important topic of debate in international trade as well as regional integration.
Hon. Bazivamo informed the participants that the fundamental importance of SPS matters is linked mainly to Agriculture and trade in agricultural products, which is the mainstay of the economies of EAC Partner States. The EAC official acknowledged that agricultural trade continues to represent a notable portion of intra-EAC total trade flows and that there was enormous potential to increase and urged the EAC Partner States to adequately address and enforce issues around SPS measures and standards.
Taking stock of the progress, Hon. Bazivamo commended the EAC Secretariat, Partner States and non-state actors for the progress made and milestones reached in 2016. He noted that following adoption of the SPS Protocol in 2013; a strong foundation for supporting implementation of the Protocol had been laid. This includes finalization of SPS measures and setting in motion the process of developing SPS Bill. The SPS Bill is expected to facilitate effective implementation and enforcement of the SPS Protocol in the entire Community.
Hon. Bazivamo commended USAID East Africa Office for their sustained efforts in supporting Regional Integration and USAID East Africa Trade and Investment Hub for supporting the EAC SPS agenda.
