TRADE among East African Community member states has continued to grow hitting 10.17 billion US dollars (equivalent to 23.75tri/-) by September last year.
According to the EAC Secretariat imports and exports in the seven partner states grew from 7.1 billion US dollars in 2019 to 9.5 billion US dollars in 2021 and by September 2022, the trade value was recorded at 10.17 billion US dollars, representing a 20 percent share in global trade.
EAC Secretary General, Peter Mathuki, attributed the increase in intra-regional trade to political goodwill among members of the Summit of EAC Heads of State and the relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions in the region, among other factors.
“The high-level discussions among the Heads of State had eliminated many Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) hampering intra-regional trade and there is hope that this and other factors will help raise the level of trade to at least 40 percent over the next five years,” he noted.
Since 2007, at least 257 NTBs have been cumulatively resolved and following the high-level summit on the Common Market Protocol held in July 2022, the EAC will review and discuss different issues impeding integration in the next Council of Ministers.
Regional ministers in charge of trade and finance set the 4th Band of the EAC Common External Tariff (CET) as 35 percent.
The CET is one of the key instruments under the Customs Union pillar, which justifies regional integration through uniform treatment of goods imported from third parties.
“From July 2022, imports of locally available goods into the region such as meat, furniture and textiles, have been attracting a tariff of 35 percent. The move aims at promoting local production, value addition and industrialisation,” said Mathuki.
He further disclosed that the bloc’s total trade with the rest of the world stood at $62 billion, adding that there was still room for improvement.
According to Mathuki, the bloc will have a single currency within the next four years.
“The single currency will ease business and movement of persons within the region. It is in line with our goal to make the region borderless so that people can move and trade freely as envisioned in the Common Market Protocol,” he said.
He further indicated that the Council of Ministers is expected to make a decision soon on the location of the East African Monetary Institute, the precursor to the East African Central Bank that will issue the single currency.
Having a single regional currency means that the power of issuing national currency will be taken from governments to a common institution, the East African Monetary Union.
Another important thing highlighted by the Secretariat is the process of sending a verification mission by the end of January to assess the readiness of Somalia after its application to join the regional bloc.
Mathuki described Somalia’s long Indian Ocean Red Sea route that links Africa to the Arabian Peninsula as a vibrant economic zone saying that it will bring immense benefits for the EAC.
“The exploitation of Somalia’s blue economy resources such as fish and the expansive coastline is also set to boost the regional economy,” he said.
Kigali will host the next annual East African Court of Justice sitting as part of the rotational mechanism aimed at implementing the policy of taking the integration to the people at the grassroots, according Justice Nestor Kayobera, the Judge President.
Source: allafrica.com
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Tanzania Declares Marburg Outbreak – Africa CDC Mobilizes Immediate Response
Addis Ababa, January 20, 2025</Strong> — Tanzania has declared a Marburg virus disease (MVD) outbreak after confirming one case and identifying 25 suspected cases in the Kagera Region of Northwestern Tanzania. The Marburg virus, a highly infectious and often fatal disease, is similar to Ebola and is transmitted to humans from fruit bats and monkeys. This outbreak marks the nation’s second encounter with the deadly virus, following the outbreak in Bukoba District of Kagera Region in March 2023, which resulted in nine cases and six deaths.
In response to this urgent threat, the Africa CDC is mobilizing strong support to help Tanzania contain the outbreak. A team of twelve public health experts will be deployed as part of an advance mission in the next 24 hours. The multidisciplinary team includes epidemiologists, risk communication, infection prevention and control (IPC), and laboratory experts to provide on-ground support for surveillance, IPC, diagnostics, and community engagement.
The Director-General of Africa CDC, Dr. Jean Kaseya, has engaged with Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan and the Minister of Health to ensure coordinated efforts and secure political commitment for the response.
“Africa CDC stands firmly with Tanzania in this critical moment. To support the government’s efforts, we are committing US$ 2 million to bolster immediate response measures, including deploying public health experts, strengthening diagnostics, and enhancing case management. Building on Tanzania’s commendable response during the 2023 outbreak, we are confident that swift and decisive action, combined with our support and those of other partners, will bring this outbreak under control,” Dr. Kaseya stated.
Africa CDC has recently supported efforts to enhance the diagnostic and sequencing capacity of public health laboratories in Tanzania. PCR Test kits and genomic sequencing reagents have been dispatched, with additional supplies in the pipeline. To ensure rapid identification and confirmation of cases, the institution will also provide technical assistance to strengthen detection and genome sequencing for better characterization of the pathogen. Additionally, support will be provided to improve case management protocols and enhance the capacity to deliver safe and effective treatment.
Africa CDC is committed to working closely with the Government of Tanzania, regional partners, international organizations, and global stakeholders, including the World Health Organization, to stop the spread of the Marburg virus.
Source: allafrica.com
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