ARUSHA - The East African Community (EAC) has organized a regional forum that seeks to discuss achievements and challenges, in the implementation of the East African Community (EAC) customs union.

The high level forum on the implementation of a fully fledged customs union will take place this month from the 30th  - 31st in Arusha, Tanzania.

To be held under the theme; "Moving the EAC to a fully fledged Customs Union”, the forum will take stock of the achievements and challenges of the customs union in its five years of implementation.

In July this year, the EAC Customs Union was officially launched in Rwanda at an occasion the Prime Minster, Bernard Makuza, described as a landmark achievement for the region while pledging government’s support in ensuring the success of the union.

"The expansion of the Customs Union is a landmark achievement which brings a sense of pride to our integration efforts and the successes that have been achieved so far have resulted in significant respect and admiration for our region,” he said.

The Protocol on the establishment of the EAC Customs Union came into force on the 1st of January, 2005, in the three founding Partner States of Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda.

Meanwhile, Tanzania’s northern region of Arusha has intensified preparations to welcome a massive influx of East Africans, including over 800 regional and foreign dignitaries, who are expected to attend the EAC Heads of State Summit, slated for November 20th in Arusha.

Main activities lined up during the EAC Heads of State summit include signing the Common Market Protocol and laying the foundation stone of the EAC headquarters building.

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