EAC Secretary General Calls for Implementation of Critical Activities in 2018
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 18th January, 2018:
The EAC Secretary General, Amb Liberat Mfumukeko, has called for serious prioritizing of the available resources to ensure critical activities in the integration process are implemented by the EAC Secretariat in 2018.
Amb. Mfumukeko noted that 2017 had been a challenging year for the EAC and singled out the first and second quarters of the 2017/2018 Financial Year, adding that the Community had experienced serious financial challenges during this period.
Delivering the Secretary General’s New Year Address 2018 to the staff of the EAC Organs and Institutions Amb. Mfumukeko, urged staff not be discouraged by the challenges faced in 2017 by quoting one great man named T.HARV EKER who said “if you want to make a permanent change, stop focusing on the size of your problems and start focusing on the size of you.”
The Secretary General outlined the tremendous achievements made in the EAC integration process in 2017 despite all the challenges as follows:
Single Customs Territory
He disclosed that the main priority was to attain the full roll-out of intra-trade and imports regime under the Single Customs Territory. Most important was the operationalization of 10 One Stop Border Posts, three (3) of which were officially launched with the most recent being the official launch of the Mutukula One Stop Border Post (OSBP) located on the Uganda/Tanzania border in November last year after Holili/Taveta and Rusumo.
Common Market
Partner States continued to facilitate free movement of goods, services, labor and capital and accord rights of establishment and residence to firms and citizens from other Partner States. Last year, the (non-tariff barriers) NTBs Act, 2015 was assented by all the Partner States and regulations to operationalize it were developed.
Also a total of 104 standards were approved by Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (SCTIFI) in June 2017 as East African Standards and 108 international standards endorsed for adoption by the Partner States in accordance with the EAC procedures. This brings to date, the cumulative total number of harmonized standards to 1,428 for the period 2000 - to June 2017. In addition to this, negotiations of Mutual Recognition Agreements for Land Surveyors were concluded.
Amb Mfumukeko disclosed to the staff that in 2017, the Secretariat, in close collaboration with Partner States continued the fight against NTBs in the region. Partner States assented to the EAC Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers Act 2017. The Act was gazetted and published. During the same year, a draft Export Promotion Strategy 2018-2023 was developed and is now ready for consideration by all stakeholders.
For 2018, the SG urged Partner States to finalise the regulations for successful implementation of the EAC Elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers Act 2017 and intensify monitoring of trade flows along EAC common borders.
Energy and Infrastructure
The Secretary General said that the EAC adopted its Energy Security Policy Framework, making it the first regional economic community to adopt an Energy Security Policy Framework in Africa. This framework aims at providing regional guidance to Partner States in the management and mitigation of the challenges in energy security. The Partner States have acknowledged that energy is pivotal to the regional integration agenda and have therefore set ambitious development plans prioritizing the energy sector.
On Infrastructure, he said the EAC was able to secure funding amounting to US$1.5 million from the AfDB for studies for the Masaka-Mutukula / Bugene-Kasulo road (Tanzania/Uganda). This is in addition to the 2.2 Million USD which was secured for the ongoing studies of the Multinational road projects: Nyakanazi-Kasulu-Manyovu / Rumonge-Bujumbura road (Tanzania/Burundi), Lusahunga-Rusumo/Kayonza-Kigali road (Tanzania/Rwanda) expected to be completed by March 2018.
In addition to this, the Tripartite Transit Transport Programme amounting to 18 million Euros was launched during the 1st Tripartite Sectoral Ministerial Committee on Infrastructure (TSMCI) meeting held in October, 2017
Industrialization Sector
Amb Mfumukeko disclosed to the staff that 2017 EAC launched the EAC Industrial Competitiveness Report. The report was developed to provide direction as the EAC seek to attain the industrialization goals of the Community by expanding market opportunities for the industrial sector in the region and improving the competitiveness of the region, in line with the EAC Industrialization Policy and Strategy.
Gender Sector
EAC registered a key milestone with the enactment of The EAC Gender Equality, Equity and Development Bill, by the 3rd Assembly 2016 early last year. The Bill gives effect to the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights as it expressly prohibits all forms of exploitation, cruel, inhuman or degrading traditional practices
Agriculture Sector
The Secretary General disclosed that the EAC Regional Agriculture Investment Plan was validated. The Plan seeks to catalyze the realization of the EAC Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) goals in five investment thematic areas, namely: Increasing regional agricultural production and food supply; Enhancing food utilization; Promoting agribusiness, value addition and agro-industry; Promoting sustainable natural resource use and management, and; Strengthening capacities of EAC regional agricultural institutions.
Meanwhile, Amb Mfumukeko talked about the elapsing of the 4th EAC Development Strategy 2011-2016, adding that the preparation of the 5th EAC Development Strategy was at an advanced stage.“The proposed 5th development strategy if implemented fully, will be a game changer in the region. It will contribute to eradication of poverty, improved health care and enhance the education standards,” said Secretary General.
He thanked Development Partners for their continued support in 2017 and called for improvement in coordination of projects and communication of results for all projects funded by the Partnership Fund.
The 2018 New Year’s message to staff was also attended by the EAC Deputies Secretary General in charge of Finance and Administration hon. Jesca Eriyo, Planning and Infrastructure Eng. Steven Mlote, Productive and Social Sector, Hon Christophe Bazivamo and Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge. The EAC Director General Customs and Trade, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda was also in attendance.
-ENDS-
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