19th EAC Ordinary summit

The 19th EAC Ordinary summit was held on 23 February 2018 in Kampala, Uganda. The focus of the summit was deepen regional integration through infrastructure development and financing for health.[1] on the agenda of the meeting was the status of the EAC political federation and the speedy integration of South Sudan.[2]

19th EAC Ordinary summit
The 19th Ordinary summit of Heads of State of The East African Community
Host countryUganda
Date23 February 2018
Venue(s)Speke Resort, Munyonyo
CitiesKampala
Participants Burundi
 Kenya
 Rwanda
 South Sudan
 Tanzania
 Uganda
Follows18th EAC Ordinary summit
Precedes20th EAC Ordinary summit

Participants
Country Title Dignitary
 Burundi Vice President Gaston Sindimwo
 Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta
 Rwanda Minister of Trade and East African Affairs James Musoni
 South Sudan President Salva Kiir Mayardit
 Uganda President Yoweri Museveni
 Tanzania President John Magufuli

Agenda

Manufacturing

Various sectors of development were discussed as a sector of growth such as Textile, Apparel and Agro-processing. A major focus for boosting regional manufacturing, the heads of states directed the EAC council to work on the process to harmonize the automotive industry regulations in the region. The leaders are looking to help reduce the importation of used vehicles and in turn grow the local vehicle assembly and manufacturing businesses.[3]

Economic Partnership Agreement

The European Economic Partnership agreement continues to be and important trade agreement that is still pending partner state approval. Museveni continued to reiterate that he is engaging with EU officials to ensure that a satisfactory agreement is agreed upon soon. Kenya & Rwanda are still the only members to sign the EU-EAC EPA.[4][5]

New Members

The council continued to guide the body to fast track the integration of South Sudan into the trade bloc. Political issues and funding has stagnated the process of integrating the new member into the block. Moreover, the EAC council had not as discussed the report that was presented at 18th EAC Ordinary summit to analyze the admission criteria for Somalia. The council aimed to discuss this at the next summit.

References
  1. PSCU (22 February 2018). "President Kenyatta travels to Uganda for EAC Summit » Capital News". Capital News. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  2. "JOINT COMMUNIQUÉ: 19TH ORDINARY SUMMIT OF HEADS OF STATE OF THE EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY". www.eac.int. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  3. "Campaign for joint EA vehicle assembly engages top gear". The East African. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  4. "East African nations approve individual trade pacts with EU if joint deal not reached". Reuters. 2 February 2019. Retrieved 24 May 2020.
  5. "EAC SUMMIT: Museveni promises to resolve EPA disagreement". The Independent Uganda. 20 May 2017. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
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