EAC devt projects get boost

Regional development projects last week got a boost after the East African Community (EAC) signed a Rwf2.7b grant deal with the Finish government.The grant aims at supporting various regional integration investments, especially infrastructure. The funds will be disbursed over a three-year period, according to the EAC secretariat in Arusha, Tanzania.The first disbursement of €1m will be released right away, while the subsequent releases will be made as need arises,” the Finish ambassador to EAC, Sinikka Antila, explained. Amb. Richard Sezibera, the EAC secretary general, commended Finnish government for strengthening development co-operation with the Community.EAC Secretary General last week held a dialogue with the heads of missions and supporters of the EAC Partnership Fund to discuss the ongoing institutional review, financing of the Community, trade and business investment in the region.The EAC Partnership Fund is a basket fund mechanism with annual contributions from development partners aimed at supporting EAC projects and programmes that are geared towards regional integration. It was established in 2006.Antila noted that Finland is the second-biggest contributor to the fund since 2008, after the UK’s Department for International Development DFID.Uganda, Kenya, South Sudan and Rwanda in October reiterated the need to expeditiously undertake joint regional infrastructure projects that are expected to hasten the EAC integration process. These include the construction of Mombasa-Kampala-Kigali railway line, an oil pipeline, the northern corridor highway and an oil refinery.