African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 19th May,2021: Reliable and affordable energy sources of energy are key to the attainment of all the four stages of the EAC integration, namely the Customs Union, Common Market, Monetary Union and Political Federation.
EAC Secretary General Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki said that energy was a driver and enabler of all sectors of the economy, adding that the harmonisation of Partner States’ national policies governing energy was therefore critical.
African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 18th May, 2021: EAC Secretary General Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki has today been sworn in as an Ex-Officio Member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA).
Dr. Mathuki took the Oath of Allegiance as an EALA Member this afternoon during a sitting presided over by EALA Speaker, Right Honourable Martin Ngoga.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 17th May, 2021: EAC Secretary General Hon. Dr. Peter Mathuki received the Ambassadors of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands who paid a courtesy call on him on Monday afternoon.
The three envoys – H.E. Jeroen Verheul (the Netherlands), H.E. Mette Norgaard Dissing-Spandet (Denmark) and H.E. Peter van Acker (Belgium) – hailed Dr. Mathuki following his assumption of office as the EAC Secretary General in April 2021.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 17th May, 2021: New momentum for cooperation between the East African Community and the Federal Republic of Germany following the signing of two Government Agreements thus paving the way for the implementation of projects of a total volume of US$65 million in the areas of health, digital skills and water resources management.
The agreements were signed by EAC Secretary General, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki and H.E. Regine Hess, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the United Republic of Tanzanian and the EAC.
East African Community, Kampala, 15th May, 2021: The Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, concluded the first phase of visits to the EAC Institutions in the Republics Rwanda and Uganda over the weekend.
The visits, which started on the 7th May, 2021, covered the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO) in Kigali, Rwanda, the Inter University Council of East Africa (IUCEA) in Kampala; and the Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (CASSOA) in Entebbe, Uganda.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 14th May, 2021: The Secretary General of the East African Community, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Uganda, His Excellency Yoweri Museveni at State House, in Entebbe, Uganda.
During the visit, the Secretary General thanked the President and other members of the EAC Summit for his appointment.
“I am cognizant of the very heavy responsibilities inherent in this appointment. I will remain dedicated, diligent and trustworthy so as to ensure we achieve tangible results for the betterment of the livelihoods of our people in East Africa,” said Dr. Mathuki.
Dr. Mathuki briefed the President on the current EAC state of play on various integration matters including progress on consolidating the Customs Union, implementation of the Common Market and Monetary Union protocols, as well as progress towards attainment of the EAC Political Confederation.
On his part, President Museveni reiterated his commitment to the EAC integration agenda and urged the Secretary General to ensure that the integration process takes its rightful place.
The President advised the Secretary General to urgently re-arrange the focus of the Community in strategic sectors to create jobs and wealth for the people of East Africa. He noted Agri-business; Industries; ICT and Service as critical sectors, which can change the lives of East Africans.
President Museveni commended the intention of the Secretary General to work closer with other EAC Organs and Institutions in order to achieve the objectives of the Community.
H.E Museveni pledged his support and that of the Summit to the Secretary General as he begins his tour of duty for the next five years.
Dr. Mathuki was accompanied by among others, the Speaker of the East African Legislative Assembly, Rt. Hon. Martin Ngoga, the Judge President of the East African Court of Justice, Justice Nestor Kayobera, the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo and Director General Customs and Trade, Mr. Kenneth Bagamuhunda.
Also present at the meeting was the Uganda's Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of EAC Affairs, Mrs. Edith Mwanje and other government officials.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka Senior Public Relations Officer Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 768 552087 Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, 13th May, 2021; The EAC Secretary General, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki has promised the business community in the region that he will do everything within his power to address the vice of Non-Tariff Barriers to trade and trade wars, and work towards raising the volume of intra-regional trade from the current level of below 20% to more than 50% over the next five years.
“I pledge to work hand in hand with all stakeholders in private and public sector to make sure that we remove NTBs in real time. It cannot be business as usual but rather a need for unity of purpose – working collectively between private and public sector as a team to serve the great people of East Africa”, added the Secretary General.
East African Community, Kampala, 13th May,2021: The Secretary General of the East African Community, Hon. (Dr.) Peter Mathuki today paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Salva Kiir Mayardit of the Republic of South Sudan, at his hotel in Kampala, Uganda on the sidelines of the swearing in ceremony of the President of the Republic of Uganda, H.E Yoweri Museveni.
During the meeting, the Secretary General thanked the President and other members of the EAC Summit for his appointment and pledged to serve the community diligently, and sought their support as he begins his tour of duty.
On his part, the President underscored the importance of the Partner States to work together as a Community. He also called upon the Partner States to ensure their participation in statutory meetings for timely decision making on matters pertaining to the integration agenda. The President further pledged his support to the Secretary General during his tenure.
The President called on the EAC Secretariat to support the participation of the South Sudan’s private sector in the affairs of the Community.
H.E Mayardit accepted the request from the Secretary General to visit Juba and brief him on the status of the integration agenda.
Dr. Mathuki was accompanied by the Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo.
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka Senior Public Relations Officer Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 768 552087 Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Headquarters, Arusha, Tanzania, 10th May, 2021: The EAC Secretary General, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki, has called upon the various government agencies at Namanga border to hold regular consultative meetings with traders to identify and address factors that affect intra-regional trade.
Dr. Mathuki was speaking during his visit to the Namanga One Stop Border Post (OSBP) on Monday.
The EAC Secretary General was accompanied by the High Commissioner of the United Republic of Tanzania to the Republic of Kenya, Amb. Dr. John Simbachaweme.
East African Community, Kigali, Rwanda, 8th May, 2021: The East African Community Secretary General, Hon (Dr.) Peter Mathuki has pledged to work closely with the private sector in the region, adding that they were the key drivers for deeper integration.
“I want to assure you that I shall do all that is within my powers to ensure that the private sector plays its rightful role in the integration process,” said Dr. Mathuki.
Speaking at the Private Sector Dinner Roundtable held in Kigali, Rwanda, the Secretary General informed the CEO’s that it was the vision of the EAC Founding Fathers that the private sector would work together with the Community to promote the integration process by creating wealth and employment for the people of East Africa.
“I intend to go the extra mile to improve the working relationship between policymakers and the business community, through Public-Private sector dialogue initiatives,” said the Secretary General.
Dr. Mathuki affirmed that he believes in an enhanced conducive regional business policy environment that takes into account proposals and recommendations from the private sector, adding that this would build confidence in the region as an attractive investment destination and trade hub.
The Secretary General highlighted to the business community his priority areas that he believes should be addressed to promote the growth of the private sector in the region.
Disclosing his areas of priority, the Secretary General said he will first create an enabling environment that supports the Customs Union and Common Market to function at their optimal levels to promote economic growth, and; establishing a Single Currency to be used throughout East Africa as envisaged under the East African Monetary Union Protocol which will, among other things, ease trade and the cost of doing business within the region.
The SG further said he intends to put in place a Dispute Settlement Mechanism as a follow up to the ratification of the Customs Union Protocol in addition to a Trade Remedies Committee.
In addition, the Secretary General said he will work closely with Partner States and the private sector to reduce the cost of energy which said has a big impact on the competitiveness of products, and; rollout of the One Area Network to all Partner States to boost trade and interaction among EAC Citizens through affordable mobile calling and data tariffs.
On a joint regional response to Covid-19, Dr Mathuki called for joint measures between Partner States’ governments and the business community against the Covid-19 pandemic
The dinner round table was organized by the East African Business Council in partnership with the GIZ- BDI under the theme “Enhancing a Private Sector led Integration & Emerging Opportunities in East Africa.”
For more information, please contact:
Simon Peter Owaka Senior Public Relations Officer Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 768 552087 Email: sowaka [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of six Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
