Kenya’s progress in the construction of the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) has earned it praise from regional Heads of State who now want Uganda, Rwanda and South Sudan to follow suit.
Leaders attended the 14th Summit on the Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIP) were particularly impressed by Kenya's commitment to a modern railway network, having completed and launched the first phase of the SGR from Mombasa to Nairobi and commissioned the second phase from Nairobi to Naivasha.
"The Mombasa-Nairobi section of the SGR is already transporting an increasing number of passengers and cargo,” the leaders noted in a joint communique released at the close of the summit held in Nairobi.
President Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) and Paul Kagame (Rwanda) attended while Salva Kiir of South Sudan was represented by special envoy Aggrey Sabuni.
Speaking at the close of the conference, Uhuru underscored the immense benefits of the joint interventions initiated under the NCIP since its inception in 2013.
“It is definitely good news for our citizens,” he said as he cited joint actions including the single customs territory that has resulted in reduced transit times and cost of goods.
The President assured his colleagues that Kenya will
sustain the momentum with the remaining phases of the SGR to reach the Kenya-Uganda border town of Malaba.
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LAKE VICTORIA TRANSPORT SYSTEM
Museveni noted that
NCIP summits underscore support for the Ugandan economy through actions such as purchase of products including maize and milk.
He
asked Ugandan Revenue Authority officials at the Port of Mombasa to ensure no backlog of cargo destined for his country.
Kagame thanked Uhuru for reconvening the summit after about two years.
In the joint communique, the East African leaders reaffirmed commitment to advancing regional integration while underscoring the importance of accelerating socio-economic transformation, industrialisation and employment creation.
To ease the circulation of petroleum products in the region, as a key source of industrial and domestic energy, the leaders agreed to come up with
‘the Lake Victoria intermodal transport system’ pending consultations on re-scoping of refined petroleum products pipeline.
The leaders also agreed to allocate more funding for the development of centres of excellence to support creation of requisite human resource capacities needed for the implementation and sustenance of NCIP projects.
On the setting up of a commodities exchange, the summit received an update on the harmonisation of standards for commonly traded commodities and directed partner states to fast-track the process.
“The summit directs partner states to expedite development of interlined trading platforms,” they said in the statement.
Notably, the summit considered and adopted the Accession Treaty to the Mutual Defence Pact, and
agreed to finalise an agreement on the establishment of a Centralised Aeronautical Database (CAD) for the Northern Corridor Airspace bloc.
Operations at the Mombasa port, a key entry and exit point for cargo in the region, was also discussed, the leaders directing responsible agencies to ensure efficient and seamless clearance and movement of cargo.
Deputy President William Ruto and representatives from Tanzania, Burundi and Ethiopia, countries which have observer status in the NCIP, also attended the meeting.