JK na Pinda wahudhuria uzinduzi wa ofisi za EAC Arusha

[Ab-Titchaz]

Finally, new offices for EA Community
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From left: President Kibaki, Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete and The Aga Khan, founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network, are shown the amenities of the new East African Community headquarters in Arusha on November 28, 2012. This was during the opening of the two buildings. PHOTO/STEPHEN MUDIARI NATION MEDIA GROUP
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By TOM MOSOBA tmosoba@tz.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, November 29 2012 at 00:29


In Summary

• Presidents Kibaki, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi officiated at the colourful ceremony attended by The Aga Khan, who is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).
• The opening of the €18.8 million (Sh2 billion) office complex that is fully funded by the German government was also attended by high-ranking dignitaries, including diplomats, business people and other government officials.
• They included Tanzania's Vice-President Mohammed Ghalib Bilal and Premier Mizengo Pinda.

The East Africa Community now has a permanent place to call home following Wednesday's opening of its office complex in Arusha, Tanzania.


Presidents Kibaki, Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania and Pierre Nkurunziza of Burundi officiated at the colourful ceremony attended by The Aga Khan, who is the founder and chairman of the Aga Khan Development Network (AKDN).

Rwandan President Paul Kagame was represented by Prime Minister Pierre Habumuremyi, while Uganda's Yoweri Museveni was represented by his Minister for State for East African Affairs, Mr Shem Bagaine.

"We have opened a project that will serve as a symbol for unity and renewal of the integration process," President Kibaki said.

The opening of the €18.8 million (Sh2 billion) office complex that is fully funded by the German government was also attended by high-ranking dignitaries, including diplomats, business people and other government officials.

They included Tanzania's Vice-President Mohammed Ghalib Bilal and Premier Mizengo Pinda.

Hundreds of jubilant nationals of the five EAC member states braved a chilly morning to witness the historic event described by speakers as a turning point in pursuit of a fully integrated region.

As part of the celebrations, EAC secretary-general Ambassador Richard Sezibera signed two bilateral agreements with Germany worth €26 million (Sh286 million) for tax administration and investment promotion reforms and another one with United States Agency for International Development (USaid) for digitisation of data exchange among the different revenue authorities.

The Director for Africa in Germany's Federal Foreign Office Ambassador Egon Kochanke and Dr Ulla Mikota, the Director for Africa in the Federal Ministry for Development Co-operation, represented Germany.

The USaid project could save up to $50 million (Sh4 billion) in costs at border posts. Last July, The Aga Khan signed a pivotal agreement with the EAC to strengthen and broaden cooperation in economic, social and cultural areas. (READ: EAC, Aga Khan team up to boost regional growth)

The agreement also stipulates that the AKDN and the EAC will work jointly, together with the government of Tanzania, to turn Arusha to a trade hub for the region.

On Tuesday, Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete urged the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) to pass laws that speed up the regional integration process.

Finally, new offices for EA Community - News - nation.co.ke

 

[MaxShimba]

So, it is German who funded EA Community!!!! I bet EAC will be speaking German.

 

[mathcom]

So, it is German who funded EA Community!!!! I bet EAC will be speaking German.

You are right ! nitashangaa kama wakitumia kimalkia humo! bora watumie ngeli tu kieleweke, watakoma waganda !!!

 

[Nonda]

Miafrika bana!!??

Halafu tunajisemea kuwa tunaungana, tunashirikiana.

Ona na hii. allAfrica.com: Africa: New AU Headquarters - a Tribute to China-Africa Relations (Page 1 of 8)

Utajiri wote wa Afrika, tunaishia kuwa omba omba au kufadhiliwa. Inasikitisha.

 

[Ab-Titchaz]

EAC heads list key projects for member states
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EAC Heads of State from left: Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Kenya's Mwai Kibaki, Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete and Burundi's Pierre Nkurunziza during the 14th Summit of the EAC Heads of States at Kenyatta International Conference Centre in Nairobi, November 29, 2012. Photo/STEPHEN MUDIARI NATION MEDIA GROUP
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By LUCAS BARASA lbarassa@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Thursday, November 29 2012 at 18:40


In Summary

• Energy, airports, roads, railway and ports projects to be built soon to speed up integration
• EAC is to develop a 10-year Investment Strategy and Plan for the priority projects

East African Community Heads of State on Thursday identified and endorsed key multi-billion shillings infrastructure projects to be built in the five member countries.


President Kibaki, Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, Jakaya Kikwete (Tanzania) Pierre Nkuranziza (Burundi) and Rwanda Prime Minister Pierre Habumurenyi listed energy, roads, airports, railway and ports projects to be built to speed up regional integration and socio-economic development.

Attending the second EAC Heads of State Summit retreat on infrastructure and financing at Kenyatta International Conference Centre, the leaders said rail lines in member states are to be rehabilitated and some new ones built.

Also to be developed or rehabilitated are ports in the region, roads linking the EAC countries and South Sudan, hydro power and gas plants, power transmission lines, oil and gas pipelines and refineries.

EAC is to develop a 10-year Investment Strategy and Plan for the priority projects and report on the implementation status every two years.

The countries are to embrace strong infrastructure partnerships with neighbouring states for development of regional infrastructure, exploitation and interconnection of power and energy resources.

"Infrastructure is an enabler that facilitates all other development objectives and that is why a large proportion of resources will continually be invested in this sector. Enhancement of transport efficiency results in reduction of transportation costs and the faster movement of goods and people," President Kibaki said.

President Kibaki said increased power reduction and interconnected power grids facilitate industrial development.

He said the government has completed port dredging at the port of Mombasa at a cost of Sh5.5 billion.

President Museveni said a railway line to be built from Tororo to Gulu should be extended to Juba in South Sudan and the Kasese-Kisingani one be linked to Democratic Republic of Congo.

He said his government will construct a 600 MW Karuma hydropower project. President Museveni regretted that Lake Victoria is under threat from silting and water hyacinth.

He said the oil discovered in Uganda will earn the country US$ 5 billion annually and speed its transformation to a middle income country.

President Nkurunziza called for maintenance of infrastructure built in the region, while President Kikwete asked EAC countries to give "serious" focus to infrastructure development.

President Kikwete called for upgrading and standardisation of railway lines in the region. He said he would leave power when his term expires in 2015 and "become a senior citizen."

A European Union representative called for transparency in procurement of infrastructure projects.

The leaders will attend the 4th Ordinary Summit of Heads of State, which will see President Kibaki handing over the chairmanship of EAC to President Museveni on Friday.

EAC heads list key projects for member states - Business_News - nation.co.ke