Rwandan envoy visits EAC Headquarters

ARUSHA - Rwanda’s High Commissioner to Tanzania, Ambassador Fatuma Ndangiza, yesterday paid a visit to the East African Community (EAC) Headquarters and held talks with the Secretary General, Amb. Dr. Richard Sezibera. During the talks, Ndangiza reaffirmed her country’s commitment to the EAC integration process and development as well as deepening the economic, social and political integration and pledged, in her capacity as an Ambassador, to promote awareness of the Community. She said since joining the Community in 2007, Rwanda had endeavoured to remove Non-Tariff-Barriers (NTBs), and abolished requirements of work permits for East African citizens in order to attract qualified members of the Community to work in the country. She urged the EAC Secretariat to be proactive in the advocacy for the removal of the NTBs so as to increase the intra-regional trade and investment in the region. The Rwandan envoy hailed the joint efforts in the development and promotion of regional infrastructure citing plans for a railway line connecting Dar es Salaam to Kigali and Bujumbura, a project that is expected to spur economic development among the three partner states and beyond after its completion. Dr. Richard Sezibera, briefed the High Commissioner on the latest developments in the integration process, noting that great strides had been made with the consolidation of EAC Customs Union and the establishment of the EAC Common Market. Dr. Sezibera said the EAC region was also undertaking ambitious regional infrastructure development programmes on roads, railways, telecommunications and civil aviation. The Secretary General also noted that because the June 30, 2011 deadline for ratification of the Protocol on Foreign Policy Coordination is fast approaching, there was need for all the partner states to ensure the deadline is met. Ends