Arusha – February 22, 2011
A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between TradeMark Africa and the East African Community Secretariat (EAC). Signing on behalf of EAC was Ambassador Juma Mwapachu, Secretary General, EAC and Mr. Alloys Mutabingwa, Deputy Secretary General, EAC. Frank Matsaert, the Chief Executive Officer of TradeMark Africa (TMA), signed on behalf of TradeMark Africa.
The signing of the MoU demonstrates the strong partnership between the East Africa Community and TradeMark Africa. As stated by the EAC Secretary General, Juma Mwapachu: “The people East Africa, their governments and their leaders, will benefit from this partnership with TradeMark Africa.”
Representing the development partners who have invested in TradeMark Africa (TMA) , the signing was witnessed by Joy Hutcheon, Director for East and Central Africa for the UK Department for International Development. With responsibility for overseeing the UK’s aid programme across all five member states of the EAC, Ms Hutcheon emphasised the importance of the role played by the EAC Secretariat and the results of the support being provided by TradeMark Africa (TMA) :
“Within DFID we are convinced that trade creates jobs and creates wealth – which in turn lifts people out of poverty. Measures to strengthen the EAC Common Market and streamline border post bureaucracy – which we’ve been discussing here today – are important for East Africa. By breaking through the barriers to trade, the partnership between TradeMark Africa (TMA) and the EAC Secretariat is helping to create new opportunities and accelerate economic growth across the region.”
Specific support to the EAC
TradeMark Africa supports the EAC Secretariat to effectively deliver on its mandate by providing technical and operational assistance support. Technical assistance aims to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Secretariat in coordinating regional projects and programmes that will contribute to East Africa’s regional integration process.
TradeMark Africa provides technical assistance to other EAC programmes, notably the deepening of the EAC Customs Union, infrastructure and one stop border development, the implementation of the Common Market Protocol, preparations for negotiation of the Monetary Union and the establishment of the COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area.
The Capacity Development Action Plan (CDAP) project is one of the initial TradeMark Africa projects , supported also by GIZ and the EC. The project provides technical assistance and support in the areas of procurement , financial systems, human resource management, governance and communications. The project is already yielding excellent results, with complete automation of EAC financial systems by June 2011.
Frank Matsaert, CEO TradeMark Africa, explained how the ideas behind TradeMark Africa came to be: “Ambassador Juma Mwapachu urged us to do something different to really make a tangible contribution to supporting East African integration and trade for the improvement of lives of millions of East Africans. With the EAC’s help and inspiration, the ideas behind TradeMark Africa were born.’’
Find out more about Trademark East Africa.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
To arrange for interviews please contact :
Vandi Hill
Director Marketing and Communications
Phone: +254 (0) 720 540 250
Email: vandi.hill@trademarkea.com
Source: TradeMark Africa (TMA)
TradeMark Africa (TMA) is an aid-for-trade organisation that was established with the aim of growing prosperity in East Africa through increased trade. TradeMark Africa (TMA) operates on a not-for-profit basis and is funded by the development agencies of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, UK, and USA. TradeMark Africa (TMA) works closely with East African Community (EAC) institutions, national governments, the private sector and civil society organisations.
