APA-Kampala (Uganda) The 2010 East African Community (EAC) budget which exceeds that of the previous year by 11% will mostly focus on the operationalisation of the Common Market and laying the foundation stone for a Monetary Union, APA learns here on Saturday.
According to the Director of Corporate Communications, Richard Owora Othieno, estimates for the financial year 2010/2011 totals almost US$ 60 million. He said other areas of priority include the conclusion of the EAC Regional Policy, finalization of the 4th EAC Development Strategy and Information and Communication Strategy ; and consolidation of the Customs Union.
He listed the other priority areas as tabling to the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) bills required for the implementation of the Common Market ; on Counterfeits and Piracy, One Stop Border Posts, HIV and AIDS and Public Private Funding of Infrastructure projects ; as well as setting the ground and launching the negotiations of the EAC Monetary Union ; and strengthening the integration of Rwanda and Burundi into the Community.
He said the budget will further target launching and implementing the East African Food Security and Climate Change Policy ; providing the forum for consultations between the private sector, civil society organizations, other interest groups and appropriate institutions of the Community ; intensification of programmes on infrastructure development ; enhancement of capacities in the productive and social sectors ; formulation of gender policy, youth policy, community development and a policy on persons with disabilities ; preparation of a strategic plan on gender, children, youth and women on social economic development ; opertaionalization of Article 122 of the EAC Treaty that seeks to enhance the role of women in business ; formulation of the civil society mobilization strategy in regional integration and completion of the industrialization policy and strategy ; as well as the investment strategy.
Deepening co-operation in defence, security and political matters ; promotion of sustainable management and utilization of environment and natural resource ; enhancing the implementation of the Lake Victoria Development Programmes ; continuation of the construction of the EAC headquarters ; conclusion of the EPA negotiations ; conclusion of the Tripartite Free Trade Area arrangements of COMESA-EAC and SADC ; enhancement ofthe capacity of the Inter-University Council for East Africa towards realization of a better working East African education system ; and putting in place the EAC-Development Fund ; are also the priority areas of focus in the EAC budget estimates for 2010/2011, are other areas.
The budget is allocated to the organs/institutions as follows : East African Community Secretariat : US$ 26,836,651 ; Defence Liaison Unit : US$ 910,244 ; Customs and Trade : US$ 3,696,411 ; East African Legislative Assembly : US$ 10,520,361 ; East African Court of Justice : US$ 2,841,777 ; and Lake Victoria Basin Commission : US$ 15,157,596.
The budget is to be financed by contributions from the partner states of US$ 30,748,369 ; development partners’ contribution totalling US$ 29,141,051 ; and miscellaneous income of US$ 73,620.
The members of EALA are scheduled to debate the budget from Tuesday 1st June 2010 at the Municipal Council Chambers in Mombasa, Kenya.
