23RD MEETING OF THE SECTORAL COUNCIL OF MINISTERS RESPONSIBLE FOR EAC AFFAIRS AND PLANNING KICKS OFF IN ARUSHA

The 23^rd Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning (SCMEACP) kicked off in Arusha, Tanzania today.

The five day meeting started with the Session of Senior Officials which will run from February 8^th – 10^th, 2016, followed by the Session of Permanent/Principal Secretaries that will take place from February 10^th – 11^th, 2016. The meeting will be capped by the Ministerial Session which will take place on Friday, February 12^th, 2016.

Among the items on the agenda of the meeting are:

• Consideration of the report on the Implementation of previous decisions of the SCMEACP;
• Consideration of a Progress Report on the Status of Implementation of the EAC Common Market;
• Consideration of a Progress Report on the Elimination of Non-tariff Barriers;
• Consideration of a Progress Report on COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Arrangement;
• Consideration of Declaration on the Establishment of the EAC Common Higher Education Area, and;
• 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. Tanzania 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), Hon. Jesca Eriyo.