The East African Community (EAC) has announced the launch of its Customs Bond – an initiative expected to cut border delays, reduce compliance costs and enhance trade facilitation.
The unified regional customs guarantee is intended to replace the requirement for multiple national bonds along transit routes.
In light of this, Heads of State from its eight member states will on March 7 convene in Arusha for the 25th Ordinary Summit, reaffirming their commitment to deepening regional integration and improving the livelihoods of East African citizens.
Themed “Deepening Integration for Improved Livelihoods of EAC Citizens,” the summit , will bring together heads of state from Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Rwanda, Burundi, South Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Somalia.
Key agenda items include deliberations on the progress of regional programmes, institutional reports and strategic initiatives aimed at accelerating socio-economic integration.
Summit participants will also launch the 7th EAC Development Strategy, which sets the bloc’s strategic direction for the next five years.
In addition to economic milestones, leaders will consider the status of integration of partner states admitted between 2016 and 2024, assess sustainable financing of the EAC budget and deliberate appointments, including a new Secretary-General, judges to the East African Court of Justice, deputy secretaries-general and commissioners to the EAC Competition Authority.
The outcomes of the summit are expected to shape the East African integration agenda, particularly in enhancing trade, infrastructure, institutional governance and economic resilience across the region.
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