The Secretary-General of the East African Community, Peter Mathuki, has taken over the Chairmanship of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Task Force (TTF) for the next year.

Mathuki took over from Stergomena Tax, the Executive Secretary of the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

During the hand-over ceremony held virtually, on June 8, Mathuki commended the outgoing chair for the exemplary leadership for the past one year especially given the situation of Covid-19 pandemic which delayed the implementation of earlier agreed activities.

Mathuki pledged to ensure continued collaboration amongst RECs on the development particularly on the ratification of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) by championing member states that have not ratified the agreement to do so in the near future.

"The signing and ratification of the TFTA Agreement is critical as it will pave way for the successful implementation of our programme," Mathuki said.

The Secretary-General underscored the importance of TFTA on improving the economic and social welfare of the citizens of the COMESA-EAC-SADC region through promotion of regional economic growth by creating an enabling environment for regional trade.

So far 22 COMESA-EAC-SADC countries have signed the TFTA Agreement while 10 have ratified the agreement.

Article 39(3) of the TFTA Agreement provides for the agreement to enter into force upon ratification by 14 member states.

In the EAC, Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda ratified the TFTA Agreement.

Tanzania is said to be at an advanced stage of the ratification process. South Sudan has not yet signed the agreement.