MINISTERS from Kenya, Rwanda, Uganda, Burundi and Tanzania, responsible for East African Affairs have arrived here for their 23rd meeting of the Sectoral Council
of Ministers.
The Head of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs at the EAC Secretariat, Mr Richard Owora Othieno stated here that the five days meeting of Ministers responsible for East African Affairs and Planning (SCMEACP), kicked off with the Session of Senior Officials.
The first session runs between the 8th and 10th, of February 2016 and is to be followed by the Session of Permanent and Principal Secretaries that will take place from February 10th – 11th, 2016.
The meeting will be capped by the Ministerial Session which will take place on Friday, February 12th, 2016. Among the items on the agenda of the meeting are the consideration of the report on the Implementation of previous decisions of the previous Ministerial Meetings; consideration of a Progress Report on the Status of Implementation of the EAC Common Market and the consideration of a Progress Report on the Elimination of Non-tariff Barriers.
The Ministers will also consider the Progress Report on COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Arrangement and the Declaration on the Establishment of the EAC Common Higher Education Area, as well as going through the progress Report on the Study on Equitable Sharing of Benefits and Costs of EAC Integration.
The Session of Senior Officials is being chaired by Mr Eliabi Chidota from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Regional and International Cooperation in the United Republic of Tanzania, which is the current Chair of the Community.
The Session was officially opened by the EAC’s Deputy Secretary General for Planning and Infrastructure, Dr Enos Bukuku. Also present at the official opening was the Deputy Secretary General (Productive and Social Sectors), Ms Jesca Eriyo.
Source: The Daily News