{The Norwegian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ms Tone Skogen, who is on a four-day official visit to Tanzania, has just visited the East African Community headquarters in Arusha reaffirming her country’s support towards the EAC integration agenda.}
The Community now consists of six member states, following the recent inclusion of South Sudan. The founding three are Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, who kicked off the revived EAC in 1999, while Rwanda and Burundi followed in 2007.
Welcoming the Deputy Foreign Affairs Minister and her delegation to the EAC the Head of the Corporate Communication and Public Affairs Department; Mr Owora Richard Othieno, on behalf of the Secretary General, Dr Richard Sezibera, commended the Norwegian government’s support to the regional integration process.
Mr Othieno briefed the Norwegian envoy on the current status of the EAC integration process and the milestones achieved so far. Among the key highlights of the latest achievements included the establishment of the Single Customs Territory, implementation of the Common Market Protocol and progress made towards a single currency by 2024.
Mr Othieno made reference to the 17th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State which was held last week in Arusha, culminating in the admission of the Republic South Sudan as the sixth EAC Partner State.
“In addition, the Heads of State officially launched the new generation International East African e-passport; a regional travel document that will fast-track clearance of East Africans within and outside EAC borders,” said Mr. Othieno.
He informed the minister that the positive developments taking place within the region were indicative of the right path the EAC was pursuing, adding that in the period ahead, emphasis will be on full implementation of the Single Customs Territory.
Such emphasis will also be placed on the Common Market Protocol, Monetary Union Protocol, regional infrastructure development, and movement towards the Political Federation. He said the integration process may be delayed or slowed down but it can’t be halted or reversed.
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