EAC 10th Anniversary Celebrations Start in Arusha with Major Symposium on Critical Issues of Integration.    

EAC Headquarters, Arusha, 12 November 2009: The East African Community observes its 10th Anniversary this month (November 2009), marking ten years since the Signing of the Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community in 1999.A number of commemorative and promotional activities have been ongoing since August for the Anniversary Observance. 

The EAC 10th Anniversary Symposium will be held at the Snowcrest Hotel, Arusha, on 13-14 November 2009 under the theme EAC 10 Years of Integration: One People, One Destiny. This two-day Symposium will involve the participation of over 100 participants drawn from Government, Civil Society, Academia, Business Community and the Media of the EAC countries, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Burundi and Rwanda. 

High level presenters and discussants will lead discussions on 4 topics chosen for their significance to the East African regional integration at the moment: Pan Africanism and the Challenges of EAC Integration; Science and Technology as Strategic Driver of EAC Development ; Climate Change and its Implications to development in the EAC Region; and Role of Non State Actors in Deepening EAC Integration . 

According to The Secretary General of the East African Community, Amb. Juma Mwapachu, the objectives of the Symposium are to highlight the achievements of the EAC during the 1st decade of its operations (1999-2009); identify the challenges and prospects of the regional integration process in the period ahead; and examine to what extent EAC regional integration meets the expectations and aspirations of the East African people and impacts their lives. 

The Symposium will document, publicize and popularize the EAC among the East African people and galvanize a passionate, visionary and broad participation in the EAC integration process. The deliberations of the Symposium will be published in a book. 

The Symposium will be attended by all the Ministers Responsible for EAC Affairs in the EAC Partner States - Hon Monique Mukaruliza, Minister of EAC Affairs, Rwanda and Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers, Rwanda Rt. Hon. Eriya Kategaya, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of EAC Affairs, Uganda Hon Amason Jeffah Kingi, Minister for East African Community, Kenya Hon Dr Diodorus Kamala, Minister for East African Co-operation, Tanzania Hon Hafsa Mossi, Minister East African Community Affairs, Burundi - who will chair the various sessions of the Symposium. 

The Symposium will be addressed by leading academics in the region, including Prof. Issa Shivji of the University of Dar es Salaam who will address on the topic Pan Africanism and the Challenges of EAC Integration, Prof Edward Oyugi of Tanzania who will present a paper on the Role of Non-State Actors in Deepening EAC Integration and Prof Laurent Ntahuga of Burundi who will lead discussions on Climate Change and its implications to Development in the EAC Region.