Posted in Press Release
Brazil has expressed willingness in promoting stronger ties with the East African Community especially in the areas of trade, investments and diplomacy.
Brazil's Ambassador to Tanzania and the East African Community, His Excellency Carlos Alfonso Iglesias Puente, said that the Brazilian business community already has a significant presence in Tanzania and Kenya especially in construction, energy and solid waste management sectors.
Amb. Puente said that Brazil attaches great importance to regional integration initiatives across the globe, adding that his country was keen on strengthening its relations with the EAC and other regional economic communities (RECs) in Africa.
He hailed the EAC as one of the fastest growing RECs in the world and said Brazil and the Southern American Common Market (MERCOSUR) of which Brazil is a member had a lot to learn from the EAC. The envoy said that regional integration processes benefit both small and big economies saying there were parallels noting that this was the case in both MERCOSUR and the EAC.
He disclosed that MERCOSUR was still trying to actualize its Customs Union before venturing into the Common Market, adding that it was a great achievement for the EAC to have put in place a Customs Union and Common Market.
Amb. Puente urged the European Union and North America to allow greater access by developing countries into their agriculture produce markets saying that agriculture is where third world countries excel.
He said that the New Development Bank (formerly BRICS Development Bank) of which Brazil is a shareholder alongside Russia, India, China and South Africa would primarily focus on lending to infrastructure projects in addition to promoting trade. The bank will have a regional office in Johannesburg, South Africa with the headquarters being in Shanghai, China.
Amb. Puente was speaking when he presented his credentials to the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko today at the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
In his remarks, Amb. Mfumukeko said that the EAC had close working relationships with other RECs in Africa which are all geared towards promoting the African Union's vision of an African Economic Community.
He informed the Brazilian Ambassador that the EAC had already made a lot of progress in the implementation of the Customs Union and Common Market.
"We are currently implementing the East African Monetary Union Protocol by putting in place the capital markets infrastructure, connecting our Central Banks, undertaking capacity building programmes and setting up the relevant institutions to make the monetary union a reality. We expect to have a single currency by the year 2024," said the Secretary General.
Amb. Mfumukeko further disclosed that the EAC Secretariat would spearhead the drafting of a Constitution for a Confederation which was the model for a Political Federation that had been adopted by the Heads of State Summit.
Posted in Press Release
EALA Speaker, Rt Hon Daniel F. Kidega is urging EAC youth to apprise themselves of the integration story, rally behind the process – and to take full advantage of the benefits it accrues.
This morning, the Speaker flagged off the 1st EAC Bicycle expedition dubbed the “Tour d’EAC” where he further urged youth to take up ownership and to participate as drivers of the integration process – saying it must be people-centred.
Joining the Speaker at the ceremony was the Minister for State without Portfoliio and the Chairman of the East African Bicycle Tour 2016 Organising Committee, AlHajj Abdul Naduli. Beginning August 1, 2016, and over 30 days, the team of fifteen shall cycle from Kampala, Uganda to the rest of the Partner States and back and in so doing, cover close to 3000 kilometres.
“I am delighted to note the cyclists shall meet East Africans of all walks of life as they traverse through Jinja, Busia, Kisumu, Mai Mahiu and Nairobi, before descending to Kajiado, Namanga and Arusha. While in Tanzania, they will turn west of the hinterland towards Singida, Kahama, Ngozi and make their way into Bujumbura. The next leg will see the cyclists pedal north towards Butare and traverse through Kigali, Mbarara and into Masaka, before they make the grand entry into Kampala” Speaker Kidega said.
The initiative by Campfire Logs Guild to ride around the region, is expected not only to benefit the individuals doing it, but the region at large as well.
In his remarks, Hon Al Hajj Abdul Naduli, the Minister for State without Portfolio and Chairman of the East African Bicycle Tour (EABT), lauded the youth for the decision to tour the region to create awareness.
“I hail the astute 15 young men and women who have decided to ride bikes across the Partner States not for any intentions than enhancing and empowering the unity of the people of East Africa, he said.
“Indeed, it is patriotism of a kind that shall accelerate more steady social security and economic development of East Africa,” the Minister added.
According to the Director of the Campfire Logs Guild, John Phyton Balongo, the cyclists will bond with locals and create awareness for the integration of East African Partner States, engage in activities that will help emphasize and support the theme; Enhancing the EAC. Mr Balongo says the cyclists will also discuss and interact with different communities about the benefits of regional integration as they ride through EAC.
The cyclists hope to make the tour an annual event.
“We chose peddling because we know it does not only provide an opportunity for people to rude together and experience the route or sight, but it is a powerful way to build a sense of Community and strengthen sociable networks within the EAC”, Balongo said.
The cyclists are expected to cross the Uganda-Kenya border at Busia in the next two days and venture into Nairobi on August 6th before arriving in Arusha on August 10th, 2016.