Integration News
Rwanda hailed on EAC integration
Amb. Valentine Rugwabiza, Minister of EAC meeting with EAC Secretary General Amb. Richard Sezibera
T
he Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), Dr Amb. Richard Sezibera urges other Partner States of the EAC to emulate Rwanda on implementing decisions taken at the regional level for the benefit of East African people. Dr. Sezibera said this while paying a courtesy call on Amb. Valentine Rugwabiza, the Minister for East African Community in the Republic of Rwanda. “Rwanda is leading other partner states when it comes to the implementation of decisions on [EAC] integration agenda and it’s a clear attestation that Rwanda is committed to the integration process,” Dr. Sezibera said. During their discussions, Minister Rugwabiza and Dr. Sezibera also talked about a wide range of issues all related to regional integration. Rwanda was the first EAC partner state to align her national laws with the laws of the community and the same exercise continues.
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Dr. Sezibera assured Minister Rugwabiza of his full support in her new assignment to accelerate and deepen EAC integration for increased benefit of the people of Rwanda and the entire regional community.
EAC integration agenda with the main focus on policy and strategic matters. Their discussions further emphasized the need to facilitate implementation of the video conferencing project to reduce the number of meetings especially at expert level in order to save time During the visit, it was noted that and resources. Rwanda was also spearheading the removal of the barriers with The officials also discussed the a number of roadblocks removed recently concluded Economic thus accelerating the rapid Partnership Agreements (EPAs) movement of goods and persons to with the EU and the ongoing EAC and from the region and beyond. trade arrangement negotiations such as Trade and Investment The officials also discussed the Framework Agreement (TIFA) EAC Institutional Review exercise with the U.S., and the Tripartite and emphasized the need to Free Trade Area (FTA) with expedite it to ensure the smooth COMESA and SADC. implementation of EAC Customs Union, Common Market and If these trade arrangements are Monetary Union as the current implemented, they are expected institutional framework was to provide enough market for established in 2006 for the Rwandan products as well as those implementation of the Customs from other EAC partner states. Union. During his working visit in Minister Rugwabiza and Dr. Rwanda, the EAC Secretary Sezibera also underscored General also met Rwanda’s Prime the cardinal role of Ministers Minister, Right Hon. Anastase responsible for EAC affairs in Murekezi. the partner states in driving the July-Dec 2014
