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The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko has commended the People’s Republic of China for the extensive support extended to the EAC not only in Civil Aviation sector but also in many other areas critical to the Community’s integration at the bilateral and regional levels.
The Secretary General, in particular, hailed the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC) and China Electronic Technology Group Corporation (CETC) for organizing and facilitating a three-day EAC-China High Level Forum on Air Traffic Management (ATM), which concluded on 27th November, 2016 in Arusha, Tanzania.
The Secretary General, who was represented by the EAC Director for Infrastructure, Mr. Philip Wambugu, disclosed that the EAC is currently the leading Regional Economic Community in matters of Civil Aviation, thanks to the many collaborative projects and programmes supported and implemented by the Partner States.
“Collaboration with China at the regional level has been growing and the Secretariat, on behalf of the Partner States, wishes to acknowledge the great support by the China Civil Aviation Administration during the MA 60 Aircraft Type Certificate Acceptance Procedures and the continued support to Burundi CAA in meeting its Safety and Airworthiness obligations to allow the commencement of MA 60 Operations in the region,” said Amb. Mfumukeko.
“The type, acceptance and certification of the MA 60 aircraft opens the doors for EAC and China to expand their cooperation in the aviation sector through various avenues including technology transfer, purchase/lease and operations of Chinese aircraft and parts among others. This is a critical milestone achieved by both parties and is also in line with the signed EAC-China Economic, Trade and Investment Cooperation Agreement,” added the Secretary General.
The Political Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy in Dar es Salaam, Mr. Yang Tong, underscored the readiness of the People’s Republic of China to support the development of a robust aviation sector in the EAC region. He also pledged to take forward with the Chinese government the implementation of the proposals arising out of the Forum.
The Forum was characterised by various presentations including on the status of the China Civil ATM; a glimpse of EAC Integrated ATM by China Electronics Technology Group Corporation (CETC); status of ATM in EAC by Kenya Civil Aviation Authority; and on the Establishment of the EAC Upper Flight Information Region (EAC-UFIR) Project. The main objective of the EAC-UFIR Project is the creation of a single bloc of upper airspace (above flight level 24,500 feet above sea level) to ensure efficient levels of safety and advantages in capacity, efficiency and performance over the present scheme in the Regional Air Navigation services provision.
The EAC-China Forum on ATM was also attended by the Chairpersons of the Partner States’ Civil Aviation Authorities; Representatives of CAAC and CETC; Director Generals of Partner States’ Civil Aviation Authorities; the Executive Director, Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency.
A Joint Statement on the EAC-China Air Traffic Management (ATM) High Level Forum was issued at the end of the Forum (attached).
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The Assembly is recommending that Sensitisation and awareness on the integration process be institutionalised as a continuous activity on its agenda. This is in addition to a raft of resolutions it adopted late yesterday as it debated a key Report on Sensitisation.
The report follows the sensitisation activities carried out by the Assembly between October 27th 2016 to November 7th, 2016 in the Partner States. The sensitisation, the third such series this year for EALA, targeted various stakeholders in outreach and was anchored on the theme: “EAC Integration Agenda: Accessing the gains”
In the report, the Assembly urges the Partner States to fully implement the Common Market Protocol which provides for free movement of people, capital and services among others, to allow citizens of East Africa to enjoy their rights. With it comes the need for the Partner States to eliminate Non-Tariff Barriers which impact negatively on intra- Regional trade activities.
On matters of peace and security, the Assembly wants the matters prioritised for people to appreciate the benefits of integration. This includes the fastracking of the implementation of the EAC Peace and Security Protocol.
The Assembly is also urging EAC Summit of Heads of States to put more efforts to fast track the on-going peace negotiation for the Republic of Burundi.
Other areas include issuance of work permits to facilitate those who wish to work in EAC Partner States as well as addressing the issue of Certificates of Rules of Origin to facilitate cross border trade.
In a bid to foster integration, the Assembly is urging the Summit of Heads of State to upgrade Kiswahili to be one of the official languages of the Community.
The sensitization programmes targeted Parliamentarians, youth groups, representatives of the business community and local government authorities. Other groups include Government officials, students and media in the respective Partner States.
The objectives of the Sensitisation activities included creating awareness amongst the people of East Africa on the integration process; gains and challenges of integration and enhancing the mutual relationships and sustainable networking between EALA and the people of East Africa.
In Rwanda, the EALA Chapter toured the Rwanda Standards Board to hold discussions with the stakeholders. Also visited were the Nemba One Stop Border Post on the Rwanda/Burundi border as well as a tour to the Rusumo One Stop Border Post bordering Rwanda and Tanzania and at Gatuna on the Rwanda/Uganda frontier.
The Uganda Chapter on its part, met with students at the Kyambogo University before meeting with representatives of the Chamber of Commerce. The Chapter also held talks with the Speaker of the Parliament of Uganda, Rt Hon Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga. They later visited the Uganda Heart Institute which is an EAC Centre of Excellence and the Uganda Cancer Institute. The Chapter also visited the Kyambogo University, before holding Public Hearings on four Bills. The Bills are the EAC Gender Equality and Development Bill, 2016, EAC Prohibition of Female and Genital Mutilation Bill, 2016, the EAC Whistle Blower Protection Bill, 2016 and the EAC Retirement Benefits for Specified Heads of Organs Bill, 2016.
In Burundi, the EALA Chapter paid a courtesy call on the President of the Burundi National Assembly and the Minister for EAC Affairs before heading to Muyinga Province. There, the Chapter met with the Governor before proceeding to the Kobero One Stop Border Post. The Chapter also held talks with the Business communities living at the border, where discussions on the benefits of integration took centre stage. The EALA Burundi also held discussions in Ngozi Province with various stakeholders as well as public hearings on a number of bills.
The Chapter in the United Republic of Tanzania toured the Immigration Department in Dar es Salaam. They also paid a courtesy call on the Chama Cha Mapinduzi Secretary General and EALA Speaker Emeritus, Rt Hon Abdulrahman Kinana, as well as sensitisation of different stakeholders in the coastal areas of Dar, Tanga and the environs. The Chapter led by Hon Makongoro Nyerere, further visited the border post of HoroHoro, which neighbours that of Lunga-Lunga on the Kenyan side where they sensitised citizens who reside on both sides of the borders.
In Kenya, EALA visited Government authorities including courtesy calls on the Immigration department and its parent Ministry of Internal and Co-ordination of National Government. The Members similarly met with the Directorate of Immigration where key matters on the e-Passport and border management were discussed and at the Communications Authority of Kenya.
The report presented to the House also cites a number of challenges of the integration process. They include the overlapping of RECs Memberships by Partner States which continue to pose harmonisation and co-ordination challenges and lack of political commitment among Partner States. Weak institutions that lack the capacity to enforce sanctions against Partner States that fail to implement Protocols are also cited. Other challenges include Non-Tariff Barriers, poor infrastructure and energy shortages and corruption.
Hon Isabelle Ndahayo acknowledged that the sensitization programmes were a success and remarked that Burundi was safe and welcoming, contrary to sections of the report. She however said the issue of certificate of origin was least understood and that there was need for more attention to be given to the matter.
Hon. Shyrose Bhanji supported the report stating unity in the region could only be achieved if there was awareness. “EAC integration is not exclusive to politicians and corporates in the region, but it is a matter for every citizen of the EAC,” she said.
She stressed the point that senistisation is about communicating with stakeholders about what is happening in the Community.
Hon Dr Odette Nyiramilimo on her part, said sensitisation was playing a key part in bringing the Assembly closer to the people.
Others who rose up in support of the report were Hon Dr Martin Nduwimana, Hon Maryam Ussi, Hon Jean Marie Muhirwa, and Hon Oda Gasinzigwa. Others were Hon Martin Ngoga and Hon Yves Nsabimana, Hon Judith Pareno and Hon Pierre Celestin Rwigema.
The Assembly resumes its Sitting on Monday next week.