2nd EAC symposium to be held in Arusha, 17-18 March 2011
High Level participants, leading scholars and researchers of region to brainstorm on EAC Strategic Vision 2020
ARUSHA, Tanzania, March 3, 2011/African Press Organization (APO)
The 2nd EAC Symposium will be held in Arusha at the Mount Meru Hotel on 17-18 March 2011. The Symposium will be attended by leading Representatives of Government, Civil Society, Academia, Business Community and the Media from the EAC Partner States (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda); and invited participants from the Regional Economic Communities (RECs); and other development partners. The theme of the 2nd EAC Symposium is: “Agenda for EAC’s Second Decade, (2011-2020); Lessons Learnt and Forward Looking Strategies”.
The 2nd EAC Symposium is a sequel to the 1st EAC Symposium which was held in Arusha on 13-14 November 2009 as one of the activities of the EAC 10th Anniversary(1999- 2009) Observance on the theme EAC: One People One Destiny. The EAC Symposium has been institutionalized as one of the major events in the EAC calendar.
The Secretary General of the East African Community, Ambassador Juma Mwapachu says the objectives of the 2nd EAC Symposium are to exchange views and synthesize experiences and lessons on regional integration in East Africa, the African continent and other parts of the world. He said the Symposium would make recommendations on how to make the EAC a more efficient and effective organization and maximize its benefits.
The Symposium will brainstorm on a Flight Path into EAC’s 2nd Decade (2011-2020). The forum is expected to articulate the broad features, set scenarios, propose benchmarks and a critical path towards deepening East African integration; and propose follow-up measures to cause wide popular awareness and participation in the EAC integration and development process.
High level presenters and discussants will lead discussions on identified three sub-themes intended to focus on setting the agenda for the EAC’s 2nd decade and galvanise visionary and broad participation in the EAC integration process. The topics are EAC Integration in African Context and Global Perspective; Taking East Africa into the Next Decade (2011-2020); and The role of Civil Society, Mass Mobilization and Popular Participation as Key Drivers of Deepening EAC Integration.
The Symposium will be attended by the Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs in the EAC Partner States – Hon Hafsa Mossi, Minister East African Community Affairs, Burundi and Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers; Hon Monique Mukaruliza, Minister of EAC Affairs, Rwanda; Rt. Hon. Eriya Kategaya, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of EAC Affairs, Uganda; Hon Professor Hellen Sambili, Minister for East African Community, Kenya; and Hon Samuel Sitta, Minister for East African C-operation, Tanzania – who will chair the various sessions of the Symposium.
SOURCE: East African Community (EAC)