President Pierre Nkurunziza today opened the Fourth Meeting of the First Session of the Third East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) at the Burundi National Assembly, Bujumbura, Burundi.
In his speech, President Nkurunziza urged the region to maintain the momentum of integration gathered by paying more attention to the drivers of integration.
In this respect, President Nkurunziza remarked that a greater internal market was necessary to increase the share in global trade and economy and to spur new jobs for citizens of the region. President Nkurunziza further urged the region to embark on value addition initiatives in agriculture through transformation and conservation, noting that it would boost up to 95% of the region’s population who thrive on the sector.
“This move will certainly boost higher intra-regional trade and raise the standards of living of our peoples”, the President remarked.
The Head of State called on the EAC to re-focus on the opening up of its borders, the removal of Non-Tariff Barriers and the enhancement of trade facilitation initiatives. President Nkurunziza noted that in addition, the implementation of a single Customs Territory was ‘key in making a difference’ for the region.
“The EAC integration is in the eyes of analysts, one of the best models of integration. We must commit to keep the standards and the records high. We have got to consolidate the Customs Union and implement the Common Market Protocol, so as to pave the way for the Monetary Union and lay the foundation for the EAC Political Federation”, President Nkurunziza added.
The President called for closer collaboration between the Organs and Institutions of the EAC to enable the citizens to reap more from the benefits of integration.
On infrastructure, the Head of State underscored the importance of ensuring timely upgrades.
“There is need to get agricultural production areas connected to the markets and industrial centres. In the same vein, there is need for our region to concentrate on energy generation on the one hand and consider the railway as the means of transportation of tomorrow for heavy goods and persons on the other hand”, the President stated.
President Nkurunziza reiterated that Burundi would continue to consolidate peace and security as the cornerstone for the promotion of democracy, good governance and the rule of law. He said that government would place economic growth and creation of employment at the centre of future programmes of poverty reduction.
‘In order to move forward, the population, the Private Sector and the Civil Society shall be involved”, the President emphasized.
In attendance were Members of EALA, Parliamentarians, EAC Secretary General, top Government and Burundi National Assembly officials, representatives of the diplomatic corps, and other stakeholders. The EALA Plenary which runs from today, through to February 1st, 2013, is the first one to be held in Bujumbura by the current (3rd) Assembly.
In her welcome remarks, the Speaker of EALA, Rt. Hon. Margaret Nantongo Zziwa, hailed President Nkurunziza and the citizens of the Republic of Burundi for their efforts and steadfast contribution towards the realization of the objectives of the EAC. The Speaker noted that the Assembly would continue to prioritise Bills for debate in the august House and added that the Council of Ministers had likewise finalized its legislative calendar.
“I am pleased to realize the progress in terms of proposed Bills to EALA after touching base with the Chair of the Council of Ministers. This is positive development and lays emphasis to the fact that the Legislature and the Executive are partners in development who must work together”, the Speaker noted.
Rt. Hon Zziwa noted that the region had realized a number of successes noting that the Summit had at its last meeting in November 2012 identified a clear list of priority projects to be implemented in infrastructure, especially in rail transport, energy, ports and the inland waterways.
The Speaker however lamented on existing challenges to integration citing Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), lack of adequate funding to run the EAC programmes and projects and lack of awareness and called for concerted efforts in finding solutions.
“Your Excellency as we start the year 2013, let us undertake to harness the challenges into opportunities and to utilize the prospects to strengthen integration and enthuse a people-centred approach”, she added.
Rt. Hon Zziwa hailed Burundi for the progress and development the country continued to realize. The Speaker noted that Burundi’s exports in the EAC region had increased by more than 15% and that imports were on the decline.
The Speaker noted that Burundi was lauded as one of the top ten countries in the continent in terms of business reforms, according to the World Bank Doing Business Report 2012.
Rt. Hon Zziwa termed the participation of Burundi in the African Union Peacekeeping Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) a fundamental move in restoring peace and security in the region.
On his part, the Speaker of the Burundi National Assembly Rt. Hon Pie Ntavyohanyuma called on EALA to engage more deeply with citizens of the region to spur integration.
“I note with satisfaction that the areas to be discussed by EALA over the next two weeks are of absolute importance to all Burundians”, the Speaker said.
Over the next two weeks, the Assembly shall receive and debate reports of the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources on Climate Change, the Report on Good Governance in Natural Resources and the Report of the Committee on Communication, Trade and investment on Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs).
Various motions, reports as well as Resolutions deepening and widening the integration agenda are also to be moved and adopted at the two week plenary.
EALA Member, Hon. Mumbi Ngaru moved a vote of thanks applauding President Nkurunziza and the Burundi National Assembly for the continuous support to EALA. Hon Ngaru thanked President Nkurunziza for fulfilling the Presidential address and termed its contents vital and educative.
“The speech today was relevant and insightful and addressed important issues. We shall seriously consider and reflect on it,” Hon Ngaru remarked, thanking the Head of State for his hospitality, reliability and availability.
She further lauded the people of Burundi for their hospitality and mentioned that EALA would undertake community work (Ibikorwa Rusangi) with citizens during the period it was meeting Burundi.
-Ends-
For more information, contact:
Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer
East African Legislative Assembly,
Tel: +255-27-2508240,
Cell: +255-787-870945, +254-733-718036
Email: BOdiko@eachq.org,
Web: https://www.eala.org
