The East African Community (EAC) has secured US$1.4 million (KES 1.5 Billion) for a feasibility study on a key section of the Northern Transport Corridor linking the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of Uganda.
According to Eng. Steven Mlote, the EAC Deputy Secretary General responsible for Planning and Infrastructure, the African Development Bank will provide funds to conduct feasibility studies on the multinational Kisumu-Kisian-Busia/Kakira – Malaba-Busitema-Busia expressway project, which spans 256 km.
Additionally, a portion of the AfDB funding will be allocated to feasibility studies for upgrading the Malaba, Busia, and Lwakhakha border posts situated along the Kenya-Uganda border.
In December 2022, the Secretariat obtained a commitment of 10 million Euros from the German Federal Government to finance feasibility studies aimed at enhancing trade infrastructure in the region, as revealed by Eng. Mlote.
On the other hand, the EAC Sectoral Council on Transport, Communications, and Meteorology (SCTCM), also instructed Tanzania and Burundi to implement the EAC Roaming Framework by August 30, 2023, and report on their progress during the next EAC Heads of State Summit.
In addition, Tanzania was directed to make amendments to the implementation of the 16th Summit directives, specifically regarding roaming and surcharges on traffic from partner states. The ministers also instructed Tanzania to set wholesale and retail tariff caps for traffic originating and terminating within the EAC and to eliminate surcharges for international traffic within the region.
The One Network Area or EAC Roaming Framework aims to standardize mobile and data roaming charges across the region, enabling affordable calls within the region and improving intra-regional trade. It establishes price caps on roaming charges and calls for the elimination of surcharges on cross-border telecommunications traffic originating and terminating within the East African Community.
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