EAC's SECRETARY GENERAL SPECIAL MESSAGE.

By Leo Odera Omolo

Fourteen years ago, the East African States ? Kenya , Uganda and Tanzania ? made a bold decision to resume their regional integration with the signing on 30th November 1993 of the Agreement for the Establishment of the Permanent Tripartite Commission for East African Co-operation. Today, as we celebrate the EAC Day, the EAC programme has vastly expanded and the EAC itself has enlarged from its original membership of three Partner States to five with the Accession of Rwanda and Burundi to the Community on 1st July 2007.

Policy framework and Institutional development It has been fourteen years of steady and systematic progress in the regional integration process. The initial years were taken up by the development of policy framework for regional co-operation. This culminated in the signing of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community on 30th November 1999.

The implementation of the regional integration programme has proceeded with incremental achievements and success under the first EAC Development Strategy (1997- 2000) and the successive Second EAC Development Strategy (2001-2005), and the current 3rd EAC Development Strategy (2006-2010), respectively.

Harmonisation of policies Significant achievements have been made in confidence building measures and harmonisation of Partner States? policies and programmes. Some of these achievements have been in easing of cross-border movements, including the introduction of the East African Passport, which is very handy for use in the East African Community.

Other positive measures have included the convertibility of East African currencies; establishment of the EAC Customs Union and progressive reduction of tariffs; revival of regional co-operation in research, human resource, science and technology development; and co-operation in legal and judicial affairs, regional defence and security, including the establishment of the Defence Liaison Unit, as well as co-ordination of foreign policy. The Partner States are increasingly co-ordinating their negotiation positions in the multilateral forums. Only this week, the EAC Partner States signed a partial EPA framework Agreement with EU together with a development component which is an important step and building block towards EAC?s achievement of a more comprehensive EPA with EU.

Development of regional infrastructure

Similarly, progress has been maintained in the identification and development of various regional infrastructure projects, involving roads, railways, civil aviation, posts and telecommunications, energy and the Lake Victoria Development Programme.

Development partnership

Over the years, EAC has laid a strong foundation for strategic development partnership with the continent and the rest of the world. Close co-operation and co-ordination were maintained with the AU, COMESA, SADC and IGAD, among others. Memoranda of Understanding or co-operation agreements were pursued with regional and international bodies as well as with a growing number of developed as well as developing countries.

New frontier of opportunity

Today a stable and reliable environment exists for the participation of the private sector and civil society in the activities of the Community. The Customs Union, launched in 2005 has taken a life of its own; its positive impact on increased intra-EAC trade and growth of revenue being felt and shared in all the Partner States. These developments further boost the attractiveness and competitiveness of the East African market and give confidence in the ongoing preparations for the establishment of the Common Market by 2010.

Investors, both from within and outside the region, should operate with confidence while making their business decisions and other contributions to the East African development effort. They should do so with full appreciation of the fact that East Africa is emerging as a new investment location and growth area - a new frontier of opportunity.

The region is endowed with vast fertile lands, minerals, water, energy, forestry, wildlife, fisheries and other resources offering great scope for agricultural, industrial, tourism and trade development and expansion. This vast potential, if well exploited and developed, will greatly improve the quality of life of the people of the region.

Strategic regional integration

The co-operation and unity of East Africans is strategic and important. The future survival of the African people lies in the organisation and development of large blocs and not small, fragmented, unviable and dependent units. The efforts that are being made in deepening East African integration will certainly bear fruit in making a positive contribution towards the realisation and fulfilment of the ultimate vision of a united, peaceful and prosperous Africa .

On this occasion of the EAC Day, I appeal to all East Africans and our development partners to take up the challenge to maximize the benefits and opportunities of the Community. We should all, with definite resolve, join the effort to stimulate development of the region and reinstate East Africa - within the shortest time possible - among the ranks of the fast transforming regions of the world. As the late Mwalimu Nyerere said, we should learn to run while others walk. I call upon East Africans, wherever they are, both those at home and in the Diaspora, to bear this in mind and work hard for a viable East African Community.

ENDS

leooderaomolo@yahoo.com