Posted in International Relations
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 25th January, 2019: The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, received credential from the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to the United Republic of Tanzania H.E Mohamed Gaber Abulwafa, who is also assigned as the Permanent representative of Egypt to East African Community.
Welcoming the Egyptian Ambassador, the Secretary General briefed him on the current achievements in the pillars of the regional integration and development process. He described Egypt as an important trading partner for the EAC and praised its outstanding role in promoting negotiations for the Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) between the EAC, COMESA and SADC.
Amb. Mfumukeko and the Egypt envoy discussed several issues including the status of the EAC-EU Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) and also explored areas of collaboration in trade and investment.
On his part, H.E Abulwafa said his country was eager to boost trade and technical cooperation with the EAC Partner States. He informed the Secretary General that Egypt has committed to improve areas of cooperation with the East African Community.
The EAC Secretary General also received the credentials from the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Islamic Republic of Iran, H E Mousa Farhang who also serve as representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the East African Community.
The Iranian envoy expressed delight at the accreditation commenting that Iran has very good relations with the EAC member states.
“In spite of the good relations between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the EAC Partner States, I believe a lot of the potential has not yet explored noting that untapped opportunities abound in trade and investment’’, remarked H .E Farhang
Amb Mfumukeko on his part, informed the Iranian Envoy that EAC is open to investment in areas of infrastructure, especially in roads, railways, ports and energy as well as technical and financial support from the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Also present at the accreditation ceremonies was EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Political Federation, Mr. Charles Njoroge and officials at the EAC Secretariat.
-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 9001:2008 Certified
Posted in International Relations
…As USAID commits more support to EAC
East African Community Secretariat, Arusha, Tanzania, 13th December,2018: The Kingdom of Belgium has appointed, Ambassador Peter Van Acker to United Republic of Tanzania, to also serve as Belgium’s Permanent Representative to the East African Community as an observer.
Amb Van Acker presented his letter of credence to EAC Secretary General, Amb Liberat Mfumukeko, during a brief ceremony held at the EAC headquarters in Arusha.
Amb. Van Acker said that his appointment was out of his government’s commitment to deepen its cooperation with the EAC, noting that the significance of regional integration is not only for East Africans, but also an important source of growth for the continent as well.
The Belgium envoy expressed delight at the accreditation commenting that Belgium has very good relations with the EAC member states.
In his remarks, the EAC Secretary General, Amb Liberat Mfumukeko warmly welcomed the Belgium Envoy to the EAC and briefed him on the current achievements in the pillars of the regional integration and development process.
He noted that Belgium has an intimate knowledge of the region and added that the EAC is looking forward to scaling up cooperation with the country.
Meanwhile, the EAC Secretary-General Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko received the Mission Director for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Mr. Mark Meassick who paid a courtesy visit to him at the EAC Headquarters.
The Kenya and East Africa USAID Director was accompanied by Program Advisor ,Regional Intergovernmental Organization, Miss Mimi Steward.
In receiving the Mission Director, Amb Mfumukeko thanked USAID for its continued support and strong partnership. Reiterating on the importance of regional integration as a means to access regional markets and gain competition advantages in efficiency and productivity outputs.
“These elements can only be realised by having no restrictions on the movement of goods, services, labour and capital within the East Africa“noted Amb. Mfumukeko
Speaking during the discussion Director Meassick acknowledged the efforts that the Community has made to access trade, adding that “this has not only promoted prosperity in those regions, but has also delivered better livelihoods to their communities, thus putting EAC in the forefront as a model for Integration“.
The United States of America through USAID has been a key Development Partner of the EAC integration process to different Project and Programmes including; Assistance Agreement for Comprehensive Regional Development (AA-CRD) to the tune of $23,230,800 from Octo. 2011 to Sept. 2019 and Regional Development Objectives Grant Agreement (RDOAG) to the tune of $30,000,000 from Sept. 2016 to Sept. 2021.
-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 9001:2008 Certified
