EAC boss meets Danish Africa envoys

Nov 08, 2013

The Secretary General of EAC, Dr. Richard Sezibera holds talks with over 50 Danish Ambassadors based in Africa.

 By Vision Reporter

The Secretary General of the East African Community Dr. Richard Sezibera has held talks with over 50 Danish Ambassadors based in Africa attending a three-day Danish Ambassadors’ Africa Regional Meeting at the Danish MS Training Centre for Development Cooperation at USA River in Arusha, Tanzania.

Delivering a presentation on the topic: Looking 10 years ahead: The role of regional organisations in Africa, the role of the private sector, Sezibera said a more integrated, prosperous, stable, and peaceful Africa was good not only for the continent, but also for her development partners.

He pointed out that the opportunities that Africa currently enjoys, and the challenges it faces today and in the next decade can only be tackled meaningfully at the continental and regional levels.

“The continent is transforming; it is now the second fastest growing continent in the world; 13 of the 20 top performers for accelerating MDGs indicators are in Sub Saharan Africa; extreme poverty has declined faster since 2005 than over 1990-2005; universal primary enrolment is 90% or higher; and under five mortality rates declined by 47% (1990-2010)”, noted Sezibera.

The Secretary General predicted increased momentum to implement the Abuja Treaty in the next 10 years which will lead to strengthening Regional Economic Communities for example COMESA and its Regional Payment System; EAC with the East African Monetary Union and Common Market; ECOWAS forming a second Monetary zone by 2015 and hence a larger monetary zone by merging it with the CFA zone by 2022.  

“The RECs will then have to harmonize their policies e.g. the Tripartite process between COMESA, EAC, SADC, bringing together 27 countries, GDP of 1 trillion USD, more than half the population of the Continent to form an FTA by 2014; a harmonized infrastructure and industrial policies and programs will be in place; and have in place a Continental Free Trade Area by 2017.”

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