EA LEADERS URGE FATSTER INTERGRATION

President Kagame with Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Tanzania's Jakaya Kikwete, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan, Burundi's Second Vice President Gervais Rufyikiri, Ethiopia's Minister for Foreign Affairs Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and EAC Secretary General Richard Sezibera. (Village Urugwiro)

 East African Heads of State have commended achievements made under the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) initiative and advocated for faster integration of the region to bring about prosperity.
Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda, Tanzania’s Jakaya Kikwete, Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Salva Kiir Mayardit of South Sudan and Burundi’s Second Vice President Gervais Rufyikiri as well as Ethiopia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, joined President Paul Kagame in Kigali yesterday for the 9th NCIP summit.
Less than two years since the northern corridor meetings began, fourteen projects including infrastructure, energy, transport, ICT and trade have been launched.Recent achievements of the Northern Corridor Integration Projects include the improved free movement of people and labour, the use of Identity Cards as travel documents, the establishment of One Network Area, the one visa for tourists coming to Kenya, Uganda and Rwanda and the waiver of work permits for EAC citizens in the northern corridor.  

Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete is welcomed by Foreign Affairs Minister Louise Mushikiwabo at Kigali International Airport. (John Mbanda)

Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta receives a banquet of flowers from a young boy on arrival at Kigali International Airport yesterday. (John Mbanda)

The President of South Sudan Salva Kiir (L) with Trade and Industry Minister Kanimba upon arrival at Kigali International Airport yesterday. (John Mbanda).SOURCE :THE NEW TIMES