Preparations for the Joint EAC Heads of State Retreat on Infrastructure and Health Financing and Development in high gear
EAC Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 7th November 2017:
Preparations are in high gear for the Joint EAC Heads of State Retreat on Infrastructure and Health Financing and Development slated for 29th November 2017 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala Uganda.
Convened under the Theme “Deepening and Widening Regional Integration in Infrastructure and Health Sector Development in the EAC Partner States”, the Joint Retreat will be the first engagement of the EAC Heads of State to address health issues and the fourth on matters of infrastructure financing and development.
The Joint Retreat is expected to give impetus to infrastructure and health development by way of possible funding commitments, political support to flagship projects, possible Public Private Partnership arrangements as well as the development of a projects implementation roadmap.
On Infrastructure matters, the Heads of State are expected to address the development of quality, reliable, sustainable and resilient infrastructure and quicker delivery of the same, including regional and trans-border infrastructure, to support economic development and human well-being, with a focus on affordable and equitable access for all. In addition the Heads of State will discuss rapid enhancement of transport efficiency in the EAC through the development of interconnected multimodal transport systems (rail, road, pipelines, inland waterways, airports and seaports among others), which would result in the reduction of transportation costs and times and improved movement of the factors of production.
With regard to the health sector, the Heads of State Retreat will seek to build consensus on regional health sector investment priorities for the attainment of Universal Health Coverage and the Sustainable Development Goals; Mobilize investments for the identified health sector priorities; as well as revitalize regional partnerships and linkages for improved health outcomes in the EAC Partner States.
The Joint Retreat will be preceded by separate Infrastructure and Health sector Investors’ and Development Partners’/Donor’s roundtables scheduled for 28th November 2017 at the same venue. The sub-themes for the infrastructure and health sector components are, “Enhancing Infrastructure Development to Facilitate Trade and Accelerate Industrialization in the EAC” and “Investing in Health Infrastructure, Systems, Services and Research for the Accelerated Attainment of Universal Health Coverage and Health-Related Sustainable Development Goals” respectively.
The Retreat Programme includes an Infrastructure and Health Sector International Exhibition that will run from 28th to 29th November, also at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala Uganda. The Exhibition will provide a platform for players in the Infrastructure and Health sectors to showcase new products and services as well as exhibit the latest advances in research and innovation.
Exhibitors will include Pharmaceutical and Medical Technologies Manufactures and Dealers; Health Insurance Providers; Regional Centres of Excellence for Healthcare; Network of Reference Laboratories; Traditional/alternative Medicine Producers, Infrastructure Contractors (Ports, Railways, Airlines, Oil and Gas); Investment Banks; Telecommunication Companies; Civil Society Organizations; Community Based Organizations; Private Sector; Academic and Research Institutions; as well as Government Ministries, Departments and Agencies among many others.
The Joint EAC Heads of State Retreat on Infrastructure and Health Financing and Development is being organized by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the EAC Partner States and leading international and regional Development Partners.
For more information on the Joint Retreat, visit the retreat website: www.eacihr17.eac.int
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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.
The EAC Secretariat is ISO 2008:9001 Certified