East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 18th July, 2018: The 6th Annual EAC Secretary General’s Forum themed Strategizing for impact: People-Centred and Market-Driven Integration is scheduled to take place from 23rd to 24th July 2018 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya.
About 100 delegates have confirmed participating in the SG’s Forum and they will be drawn from the Partner States’ Private Sector Organizations (PSOs), Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), professional bodies, Academia/Universities, Media, EAC Organs and Institutions, Development Partners and Other Interest Groups.
The Forum aims to provide a platform for regular dialogue between the EAC Secretary General and the Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest groups on how to improve the EAC integration process. The annual Forum is convened by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the Regional Dialogue Committee (RDC) which is comprised of membership drawn from Partners States which include the Private Sector, Civil Society, Representatives of Government and regional Private Sector, Civil Society, Trade Union, Employer and Professional Associations/Bodies.
The 6th Annual SG’s Forum will review the work plan and progress Reports on the Consultative Dialogue Framework (CDF) for Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest groups, which was adopted by the 26th Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers; consider translating SG’s Forum Resolutions to Policy; define success stories of the Dialogue Process; and consider Sustainability of the Consultative Dialogue Framework by redefining the Roles of the Dialogue Parties.
Since the adoption of the CDF, five Annual EAC Secretary General’s Forums have been held. The first Forum took place in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in December, 2012, with the theme: “Review of Implementation of The EAC Common Market”; The Second was in Nairobi, Kenya in October, 2013 and themed “The EAC We Want”; The third was held in Entebbe September, 2014 under the theme “EAC: My Home, My Business”; The Fourth Forum was in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in March 2016, under the theme “Good Governance and Constitutionalism in the East African Community”; and the fifth forum was held in June 2017 in Bujumbura, Burundi, under the theme:“15 Years of The EAC: Towards a Borderless Community”.
Note to Editors
The Dialogue Framework Forum for Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest groups in the EAC integration process was endorsed by the EAC Council of Ministers at its 26th meeting in November 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya.
Article 127 (4) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community provides that: “ The Secretary General shall provide the forum for consultations between the private sector, civil society organizations, other interest groups and appropriate institutions of the Community”, while Article 129 (2) requests the Council to “establish modalities that would enable the business organizations or associations, professional bodies and the civil society in the Partner States to contribute effectively to the development of the Community.”
The Forum is guided by the principles of cooperation for mutual benefit, trust, goodwill, active and constructive participation, inclusivity and respect for diverse views, among others.
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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, 17th July, 2018: Over 100 laws in the six East African Community Partner States national legislation need to be reviewed to conform to the EAC Common Market Protocol.
The EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo noted that harmonisation of Partner States’ relevant national laws to conform to the Protocol was a monumental task that would require lots of time and resources.
Hon. Bazivamo said that the concerned laws relate to the provisions of the protocol, namely: free movement of goods; free movement of persons; free movement of labour; free movement of capital; free movement of services; right of establishment, and; right of residence.
Hon. Bazivamo said that despite these challenges, the Community had made significant progress in terms of promoting the cross-border movement of skilled labour and cited the signing of Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) among various professionals.
The DSG disclosed that MRAs had already been signed among Accountants, Architects, Engineers and Veterinarians.
“Negotiations of MRAs for Land Surveyors and Advocates were concluded and are awaiting signing by competent authorities. The negotiations of the MRA for Pharmacists have commenced,” said Hon. Bazivamo.
The DSG said that the main barriers to the free movement of persons in Africa were the mind-sets based on the geographical boundaries drawn by the colonial powers and regulations put in place by countries concerning immigration, customs and other cross-border procedures.
“Sensitisation of people at all levels is therefore necessary at all levels on the need to knock down these national barriers,” he said.
Hon. Bazivamo was speaking during a courtesy call by a team from the IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development (ICPALD) which is based in Nairobi, Kenya. The IGAD led by ICPALD Director, Dr. Solomon Muchina Munyua, was on a two-day benchmarking mission to the EAC Headquarters specifically on the Free Movement of Persons. The Mission also sought to understand the EAC policy position and practice on transboundary pastoralism and cross-border transhumance.
In his remarks, Dr. Munyua disclosed that IGAD was currently working on protocols on Transhumance and the Free Movement of Persons, and thus the need to benchmark with the EAC whose membership and nationalities overlap with those of IGAD.
“The people of Eastern Africa share languages and culture across borders, for instance, the Digo, Maasai, Kuria and Luhya. Integration brings with it fears of the loss of jobs and resources. We are keen to learn from EAC on how it has managed to overcome these barriers,” said Dr. Munyua.
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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, 17th July, 2018: Supported by the African Development Bank (AfDB), the East African Community Secretariat has conducted stakeholders’ consultative meetings in Partner States from June 19 to July 10, 2018. The main objective of the meetings was to introduce the 50 Million African Women Speak Networking Platform Project (50MWS) to stakeholders.
EAC Secretariat delegation targeted key Ministries partners to the project, including the Ministries of Gender, ICT, Trade and Ministries in charge of EAC Affairs in each Member State. EAC delegation also met stakeholders from Civil Society, NGOs and UN Agencies.
“50MWS is an online platform that will provide financial and non-financial information to women entrepreneurs for them to interact and grow their businesses’,” Mary Makoffu, the EAC Director of Social Sectors and head of the EAC delegation explained.
“We have already existing platforms of women in business across EAC and we want to partner with them and build on the existing structures to better deliver on this project,” Ms. Makoffu said.
50MWS is being implemented in three different economic regions (RECs) including EAC, COMESA and ECOWAS. This is a good opportunity for women in business in respective RECs to penetrate markets of other RECs, EAC head of delegation considers.
After the consultation meetings the EAC Secretariat wants to continue and work with Member States to form country teams that will help in collection of information to upload into the platform. The Ministry of Gender in each country will be in charge of coordination.
Partners from all member states met, said to be excited and promised to give a full support to this innovative project.
A lot is being done by Member States to promote women’s economic empowerment despite some challenges; Gender Ministries’ representatives in each Partner States explained.
Governments have started disbursing funds to support women’s economic activities; initiatives which are currently contributing to increased employment, women’s capacity and resources power.
Youth enterprises are also being supported by Government’s funds to build youth’s capacity and reduce unemployment; Gender Ministries’ representatives continued.
All stakeholders met are confident that the contribution of the 50MWS Project on the top of already existing efforts; will contribute to reduce to zero gender inequalities that were observed across the countries.
Meeting attendants expressed some concerns that can prevent the project from achieving its goal; those include the weak smart phone penetration in most of EAC countries and the sustainability of the Project.
The EAC Secretariat finds these concerns relevant but assured them that EAC has developed a communications Strategy to make sure that even the women using the feature phones in the rural areas are reached by information circulated by the platform.
On the concern of sustainability, Wilson Muyenzi, the 50MWS Project Coordinator says that COMESA, the Project coordinating REC, is commissioning soon studies, to come up with mechanisms of sustainability.
Partner States sincerely thanked EAC Secretariat for this initiative and reiterated again countries’ commitment to support the project.
“Once our women will be economically empowered, the capacity of our countries will be doubled, and economic development will be a reality,’’ Mary Makoffu, EAC Director of Social Sectors constantly explained to Stakeholders met.
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For more information, please contact:
Achel Bayisenge Content Manager 50 Million African Women Speak, Networking Platform Project EAC Secretariat Mobile: +255786726230 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
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, Tanzania, 14th July 2018:The Ministerial Session of the 28th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning (SCMEACP) has been called off due to lack of quorum at the Royal Palace Hotel in Bujumbura, Burundi.
The Rules of Procedure for the Council of Ministers provide that quorum of the meeting of the Council is all Partner States’ representation. The representation at the Ministerial Session of the Council requires a Minister or Ministers designated by that Partner State.
When the meeting convened at the Ministerial level yesterday morning, it was realized that there were no Ministers from some Partner States to attend the Meeting hence the call off. The Secretariat is consulting with the Partner States on when to convene the Ministerial Session.
The meeting was scheduled to consider several items pertaining to deepening and widening the regional integration agenda, which included among others, status of implementation of the EAC Common Market; restructuring of the Deputy Secretaries General positions at the EAC Headquarters as directed by the 19th Summit of the EAC Heads of State; the EAC Calendar of Activities for the period July – December 2018; and Status of the Contribution to the EAC Budget for the FY 2017/18.
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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, Tanzania, 12th July 2018: The 28th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning (SCMEACP) is currently underway at the Royal Palace Hotel in Bujumbura, Burundi.
Dr. Andrew Musiime, Director in the Uganda’s Ministry of East African Community Affairs is chairing the meeting, while the rapporteur is Mr. Fidele Munyeshyaka, Rwanda’s Charge D’ Affaires in the Republic of Burundi.
The meeting is considering several items including, among others, the status of implementation of previous decisions and directives of the SCMEACP; progress report on the implementation of the EAC Common Market; report of the 5th annual EAC Secretary General’s Forum; a proposal to undertake elaborate Observance of the 20th EAC Anniversary in 2019; and restructuring of the Deputy Secretaries General positions at the EAC Headquarters, as directed by the 19th Summit of the EAC Heads of State.
The 19th Ordinary Summit of the East African Community Heads of State held on 23rd February 2018 at the Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda, decided that there shall only be two (2) Deputy Secretaries General at the EAC who shall be recruited competitively on rotational basis and directed the Council of Ministers to follow up this matter and fast-track the restructuring process.
The 28th meeting of the Sectoral Council is being held through the session of Senior officials that started on Tuesday 10th and ends in the morning hours on 12th July; the session of Permanent/Principal/Under Secretaries from the afternoon on 12th and ends on 13th July; and the Ministerial session is on Saturday 14th July 2018.
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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.
106 VIPs, 291 Match officials, 310 Team officials, 1630 Players to participate
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 12th July 2018: The Republic of Burundi will host the 1st Edition of the East African Community Games (EACoG) from 16th to 30th August 2018 in the city of Bujumbura, and in the towns of Ngozi and Gitega, under the theme Fostering EAC Integration andPeace through Sports.
The Games will take the form of all East Africa Games and will include multiple sports disciplines including: Athletics, Football, Handball, Basketball, Netball, Volleyball, Tennis, Rugby, Judo, Karate, Boxing and Taekwondo to be competed among the 6 Partner States that form the East African Community.
EACoG is a Regional Sports initiative that emanates from the decision of the 20th EAC Council of Ministers, which directed the Secretariat to organize and hold Sports Tournaments on regular basis with partnership of private sector, civil society, voluntary organizations/ institutions/individuals and Development Partners.
This was in recognition of the important role sports play towards reinforcing the spirit of East African unity and development and galvanizing a passionate, visionary and broad participation among the East African people, reflecting the basic principle of a people-centered regional integration.
Commenting on the ongoing preparation for the Games, the EAC Secretary General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko disclosed that EACoG aims at showcasing the diverse sporting talents and provides a platform for sports talent exchange, learning and celebration.
“This initiative is aimed at providing an opportunity for East Africans to showcase the diversity of sporting talent in the region with particular focus on amateur/upcoming sports men and women with a limited emphasis on the competition”. “We are also aiming at making the event attractive to the public to enable East Africans to move across borders to interact freely within the region”.
The Secretary General also disclosed that the Burundi Government through its Ministry in the Office of the President Responsible for EAC Affairs has already extended invitation to the Partner States to participate in the Games.
According to the EAC Principal Sports and Culture Officer, Mr. Bernard Bakaye Lubega, it is expected that EACoG will attract 106 VIPs, 291 Match officials, 310 Team Officials, and 1,630 players in various disciplines.
Notes to Editors
Article 119 (a) of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community states that: “The Partner States shall promote close co-operation amongst themselves in culture and sports with respect to the promotion and enhancement of diverse Sports activities”.
The overall objective of the EAC games is to foster regional integration and solidarity among the People of East Africa.
Some of the exiting Regional Sport Initiatives Events include:
EAC Military Games and Culture Event: They have been held seven times on rotational basis in all the EAC Partner States – Under the Memorandum of Understanding on EAC Cooperation in Defense. The games involve the following disciplines; Basketball, Handball, Netball, Soccer and X-Country. The Games are sponsored by EAC Partner States;
EAC Inter-Parliamentary Games: These have been held 5 times on rotational basis since the establishment of EALA. The games involve the following disciplines: Netball and Soccer. They are sponsored by the national Parliaments and the East African Legislative Assembly;
East African Secondary Schools Games: This has been held 13 times on rotational basis since the EAC was re-established. It is organized by the Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA). The games are sponsored by the participating secondary schools and private sector;
East African Inter -University Games: These have been held six time since the EAC was re-established. The tournament is sponsored by the participating Universities and the private sector;
East Africa University Female Games: This has been held once so far. The games are organized by East Africa University Sports Federation with support from International University Spots Federation (FISU), through Federation of African University Sports (FASU). Games are aimed at promoting and celebrating women involvement in University Sports (especially those marginalized Sports). The Competition features the following disciplines: Handball, Football, Netball, Tennis and Chess;
East african Netball Championship: Last Event was held in Dar es salaam, Tanzania in 2013. The Tournanent features only Netball;
East Africa Rugby Cup (EARC): This is organized by the East African Rugby Football Union. The Tournanent is for Only Rugby;
East African Rugby Super Cup: This is organized by the East African Rugby Football Union. The Tournanent is for Only Rugby;
East African Cup: This is a ten year old tournament.It is usually held in Moshi;
East Africa Handball Championship: This is organized annually by the East and Central Africa Handall Federation – for men. The games have been held succesfully for 28 years.
East African Cricket Cup;
East African Beach Volleyball Championships;
East African Athletic; and
East Africa Sports for People with Disability
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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.
EAC Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 5th July, 2018: The 15th Meeting of the Sectoral Council on Transport, Communications and Meteorology (TCM) was from 25th to 29th June, 2018 at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
Speaking at the opening session, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Planning and Infrastructure, Eng. Steven Mlote, noted the considerable developments that are being registered in the infrastructure subsector in the region including the fast pace in the development of multinational roads, the rapid expansion of airports and national airlines, the on-going development of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) on the Northern and Central corridors, the expansion of seaports, as well as the increase in mobile penetration and related mobile services.
“The EAC Heads of State, during the Joint EAC Heads of State Retreat on Infrastructure and Health Financing and Development held on 22nd February 2018, approved 286 projects including 17 flagship projects for championship at the Heads of State Level, whose total investment requirement amounts to US$ 79 billion,” stated the Deputy Secretary General.
Eng. Mlote further emphasized that political support and leadership by the Ministers responsible for infrastructure sectors was a critical factor for successful implementation of the identified regional priority projects.
In his remarks, Hon. Bagiire, Minister of State for Works and Transport, Ministry of Works and Transport, Uganda, stressed on the need to make headway on relating to air transport services liberalization and the EAC roaming framework.
The meeting discussed various projects and programmes under the Infrastructure sub-sectors - roads, railway, civil aviation and airports, maritime transport, meteorology and communication.
The meeting agreed on the proposal to develop Phase II of the One Stop Border Posts, as well as the need to fast track the implementation of Vehicle Load Control and One Stop Border Posts Acts. In an effort to further enhance the sub-sector in the region, the meeting also approved the EAC Railway Enhancement Study report and the EAC Postal Strategy.
In attendance were Ministers/Cabinet Secretaries, Permanent and Principal Secretaries and Senior Officials of the EAC Partner States responsible for infrastructure sectors; Civil Aviation Safety and Security Agency (CASSOA); the Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) and the EAC Secretariat. Also in attendance as observers were representatives from the East African Communications Organizations (EACO); Trademark East Africa (TMEA); Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD); IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre (ICPAC); World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) and African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC).
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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.
Nairobi, Kenya: June 29, 2018: The East African Business Council appoints Mr. Nicholas Nesbitt from Nairobi, Kenya as the new EABC Chairman for the period 2018/2019 during the 19th Annual General Meeting (AGM). Mr. Nesbitt takes over from Mr. Jim Kabeho from Uganda who has served for the period 2017/18. Mr. Nicholas Nesbitt is also the Chairman of Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) & General Manager Eastern Africa, IBM East Africa Limited.
Dr. Manu Chandaria, EABC Founding Chairperson in his remarks during the 19th AGM urged the Private Sector to be committed in the EAC Integration and spearhead for full inclusion of EABC in the EAC as a constituent member of the EAC Integration process.
“As the Private Sector our interest should be one East Africa and not our country.” Dr. Manu Chandaria, EABC Founding Chairperson emphasizes the need to for concerted strengthen Private Sector advocacy efforts at regional level.
In his acceptance remarks, Mr. Nesbitt reiterated the need to increase competitiveness of East African companies and SMEs to compete at continental as well as international level.
“Let’s focus on competitiveness of our businesses to sell our goods at regional, continental, and international scale ” said Mr. Nicholas Nesbitt.
He urged for close collaboration with the governments of the EAC Partners States and called for the government to improve the business environment support the operations of the Private Sector to thrive. The new chair also called for improvement of technological infrastructure to fast track free movement of goods and services in the region.
“Adopt technology such as block chain to solve regional challenges like counterfeits and contrabands” said Mr. Nicholas Nesbitt, new EABC Chairperson.
The East African Business Council also appointed Vice Chairs and Members of the EABC Executive Committee who strategically guide EABC’s mission to promote sustainable Private Sector driven growth. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) is the supreme policy making organ of the East African Business Council (EABC). The AGM meets once a year to elect the Executive Committee headed by the Chairperson, receive annual report on the initiatives undertaken by the Secretariat and give overall direction to the Secretariat in line with the Strategic Plan and interests of the business community in East Africa. The EABC Board of Directors consists of 22 members, headed by a Chairperson, elected from the Partner States on an annual rotational basis. Each country nominates 4 Members to the Executive Committee.
In his remarks, the outgoing Chairman Mr. Jim Kabeho lauded the EABC Secretariat for the good work that has been done in the year under review and congratulated the incoming board of directors, urging them to continue the ongoing initiatives of the EAC Integration process.
Mr. Nesbitt further appreciated efforts by the former chair Mr. Jim Kabeho in steering the work done in the year 2017 together with the Executive Committee. Mr. Nesbitt reiterated his commitment and passion to work with colleagues, Executive Committee members and requested full support from EABC Members, EABC National Focal Points, Secretariat, as well as the East African Community Secretariat, Organs & Institutions, Governments of the EAC Partner States and Development Partners.
During the 19th EABC Annual General Meeting, EABC also honored outgoing board directors for their distinguished service to the council in the year 2017.
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Notes to Editors
About East African Business Council
The East African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex body of Private Sector associations and Corporates from the 6 East African Countries. It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the Private Sector in the Integration process of the East African Community. Being the representative of Private Sector associations in the region, EABC was granted observer status in organs and activities of the East African Community (EAC). EABC therefore participates in various sectoral meetings, meetings of the Coordination Committee, the EAC Council of Ministers, and the Summit of the EAC Heads of State; with a view to ensure, that the agenda of the Private Sector is well articulated and received by the policy makers.
Vision: Borderless East Africa for business and investment.
Mission: To promote sustainable Private Sector-driven growth.
EABC Membership is drawn from the six East African Partner States and is open to all national and regional associations as well as Corporates with interest in the EAC Integration process or operations in the region. At national level, EABC activities are coordinated through the EABC National Focal Points, who are also the national Private Sector umbrella bodies. These are Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industries Burundi (CFCIB), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF), Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU).
For more information about EABC, visit www.eabc.info
East African Legislative Assembly, Luanda, Angola: 28 June, 2018:Industrialization is a key component achievable within economic communities through enhanced push for integration and commitment to the ideals of an economic bloc.
In order to achieve the same, legislators among other stakeholders need to effectively undertake their role, EALA Member, Hon Kasamba Mathias has said. Hon Kasamba made the remarks at a symposium on the sidelines of the on-going 43rd Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum (SADC-PF) in Luanda, Angola.
Hon Kasamba who is Chairperson of the Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources said the EAC region continued to underscore importance of industrialization in the quest to realise full benefits of integration. The legislator was reacting to a paper presented by the Senior Officer, in charge of Industrialization and Competitiveness at the SADC Secretariat, Dr Johansein Rutaihwa entitled deepening SADC Economic Integration through Industrialisation: the Role of Parliament.
Dr.Rutaihwa informed the Symposium that SADC region was making progress in improving the business environment and its competitiveness in general, although the performance was mixed as a result of the macro-economic background.
In order to enhance industrialization, Dr Rutahiwa informed participants of SADC’s Industrialisation strategy (2015-2963) which anticipates three key guiding principles; Industrialization as champion of economic and technological transformation, competitiveness (at the firm/industry, country and regional level) and the uptake of regional integration in the context for industrial development and economic prosperity. Dr Rutaihwa said the SADC region was keen to prioritise agro-processing, minerals beneficiation and the pharmaceuticals.
The presenter urged Parliaments and legislators to encourage Member States to mainstream the regional industrialization strategy in their national policies and to be fully involved especially with regards to domestication of the industrial policies within their national set-ups.
The vision of SADC is to build a region in which there will be a high degree of harmonisation and rationalisation, to enable the pooling of resources to achieve collective self-reliance in order to improve the living standards of the people of the region.
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For more information, please contact:
Bobi Odiko Senior Public Relations Officer East African Legislative Assembly Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255-27-2508240 Fax: +255-27-2503103 Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036 Email: BOdiko [at] eachq.org Web: www.eala.org
About the East African Legislative Assembly:
The East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) is the Legislative Organ of the Community and has a cardinal function to further EAC objectives, through its Legislative, Representative and Oversight mandate. It was established under Article 9 of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 28th June, 2018: UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has commended the East African Community for leading the Inter-Burundi Dialogue process and thereby assist Burundians to restore stability in their country.
Mr. Guterres further described the EAC as having strong potential for integration in Africa backed by homogeneity and vast economic opportunities.
Mr. Guterres, who met the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge, on 26th June, 2018 at the UN Headquarters in New York, reiterated the African Union/United Nations complementary on all spheres of cooperation and reaffirmed the need for African leadership in Peace and Stability in the continent.
The Secretary General disclosed that he will be participating in the upcoming AU Summit in Mauritania where an action plan for the AU/UN partnership will be concluded.
On his part, Mr. Charles Njoroge, who is in New York to participate in the 3rd Review Conference on the implementation of the UN Programme of Action on Small Arms and Light Weapons and also to attend the UN High Level Conference on Counter Terrorism, reaffirmed the EAC’s commitment to full implementation of the UN Programme on SALW consistent with the goals set in SDG 16.4.
Mr. Njoroge noted that the Community appreciates the importance of a peaceful, stable and secure environment and respect for human rights to achieve sustainable development and informed the UN Secretary General that the Community has unwavering support for the work of the Peacebuilding Commission particularly in respect to the Burundi and the South Sudan peace processes.
Mr. Njoroge hailed the Partnership on Burundi developed through the Joint Technical team that brings together the UN/AU/EAC to collectively and synergistically support the Burundi process and the EU support. He declared that “EAC remain committed to walking with Burundians towards peaceful credible elections in 2020”.
The EAC official also informed the UN Secretary General that EAC had a standing MoU with the UNHCR to support comprehensive and proximate management of Refugees in the region in conformity with the provisions of the regional and global instruments on the same.
Meanwhile, addressing the 3rd review conference on the implementation of the UN programme of action on SALW and its tracing instrument, the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge, stated that the East African Community had launched the 5th Development Strategy, which has specific targets on SALW control that relate to the AU silencing the Guns Initiative 2020.
He informed the Conference that the Community views the implementation of the Joint United Nations-African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security signed on 19th April 2017 as providing an enabling vehicle for SALW control initiatives with an eye on addressing both the demand and supply driving factors.
He disclosed that at regional level, the EAC had established a Regional Ballistics Referral facility in Kampala, Uganda through EU Support to procurement and commissioning of a state of the art Integrated Ballistics Identification System, intended to address the dual challenges of enhancing investigative capacity in arms related offences but also ease the tracing instrument.
“This is one of the flagship interventions under the East and Southern Africa Maritime Security Project intended to among others Interdict Sea bound illicit trafficking of SALW, and EAC remains immensely appreciative to the EU for this support,” said the Deputy Secretary General.
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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.
