Tanzania President Jakaya Kikwete
President Kikwete spoke after taking over the rotating annual
chairmanship of the East African Community (EAC) from Kenya’s President
Uhuru Kenyatta during the 16th East Africa Community Summit in Nairobi,
Kenya over the weekend.
He added there was need to eliminate non-tariff barriers to intra-community trade with about 24 of them still remaining.
“Intra-EAC non-tariff barriers translate to impediments to our
region’s competitiveness as a global investment destination denying us
uncountable golden opportunities,” he said, re-assuring that Tanzania
was committed to stay on the course of regional integration.
He said there is also need to strengthen peace and stability if the region is to prosper.
At the handover ceremony, President Kenyatta said the importance of
improved infrastructure in the community would enhance trade and reduce
costs of production.
We undertook to establish one-stop border posts at our major
boundary points, he said, there has been tremendous progress in putting
these up, and a number are complete, awaiting official opening.
He cited Lunga-Lunga and Taveta on the Tanzania/Kenya border as well as Rusumo on the Uganda/Rwanda border.
“Upon commencement of full operations, we expect these facilities
to support efficient transactions in our Community by reducing clearance
times by up to 40 percent,” he said.
Intra-EAC trade grew from 3.5 billion $ in 2009 to about 5.8 billion $ in 2013.
Noting that progress has been made and moved a good distance, Kenyatta said a lot remains to be done.
I assure my brother, President Kikwete of my support and trust that
he will take the integration agenda even further in the coming 12
months, he said. The Summit also appointed Mr Liberat Mpfumukeko, new
Deputy Secretary from Burundi replacing Jean Claude Nsengiyumva who has
completed his two three year non-renewable terms.
Mpfumukeko, a Canadian trained, has held several positions in
Burundi including the Head of the Burundi Investment Board and the
National Electricity and Water Authority.
However, Mpfumukeko will remain in the position until April 2016
(for about a year) when Burundi officially takes over the rotating
Secretary General’s position from the current Rwanda’s Dr Richard
Sezibera. The Secretary General’s position is five-year fixed term
position.
The Summit also appointed Justice Aidace Ngiye and Lady Justice
Monica Mugenyi as judges of the East African Court of Justice
(EACJ)First Instance Division effective June 27, 2015 while Justice
Geoffrey Kiryabwire was appointed judge of the EAC Appellate Division
effective August 16, 2015.
The Summit signed and approved the protocol to operationalise the
extended jurisdiction of the EACJ covering trade and investment as well
as matters associated with the implementation of the protocol on the
establishment of the EA Monetary Union.
The EAC heads of state also launched the EAC Telepresence Video
Conferencing System that will see EAC meeting costs reduced by 30
percent annually. EAC hosts about 800 meetings every year at a cost of
12 million USD.
East Africa News Agency
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