The Presidents of Rwanda, Uganda, Kenya and South Sudan have reached a deal on a single customs territory that will facilitate trade in the four regional countries.

The Heads of State signed a Memorandum of Understanding to that effect in Kigali during a regional integration projects summit.

"We feel satisfaction with the progress that has been already made," the host President, Paul Kagame, told journalists at Village Urugwiro after the talks. "Single customs territory is an important milestone that will contribute to the growth of our economies."

The single customs territory is expected to significantly reduce time for cargo to reach Rwanda from the port of Mombasa in Kenya, from 21 to eight days, and Uganda (from Mombasa) from 15 days to five days.

For the first time, Sudan fully participated in what has hitherto been a trilateral arrangement involving Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda.

The three are, alongside Tanzania and Burundi, partners in the East African Community and some of the projects they have undertaken in recent months had initially been envisioned under the EAC integration framework.

The Kigali summit follows similar gatherings in Entebbe, Uganda and Mombasa in recent months.

The initiative also includes plans to construct a railway line from Mombasa to Kigali and an oil pipe from Eldoret in Kenya to Kigali, as well as use of identity cards as travel document among the participating countries and introduction of a single tourists’ visa.