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Statement from the Integration Projects Summit

Kigali: His Excellency Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, His Excellency Uhuru Kenyatta, President of the Republic of Kenya, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of Uganda, and His Excellency Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit, President of the Republic of South Sudan attended the Integration Projects Summit on October 28, 2013, in Kigali, Rwanda.

The Summit was convened to review the progress on implementation of the decisions reached during the 2nd Infrastructure Summit that was held in Mombasa on August 28, 2013 and to provide direction on deepening regional integration.

The Summit was attended by senior officials and Ministers from the four Partner States.

The talks were held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere.

The Summit considered the Ministerial Report and the recommendations therein, took note of the various Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) and the One Stop Border Post Agreement that were signed during the Ministerial session.

The summit directed as follows:

A. Power generation and transmission

• Each Partner State shall provide comprehensive information on existing power generation capacities and investment programmes before each summit.

• Finalise the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in geothermal energy, to be run by the Geothermal Centre of Excellence in Kenya, and sign it before the next summit.

B. Petroleum products pipeline development

• Conclude negotiations with potential developers for the Eldoret-Kampala Segment.

• Partner States shall remit their contributions to the cost of the feasibility study by November 30, 2013 into the specific bank account opened with the National Bank of Rwanda.

C. Crude oil pipeline development

•Urged further consultations to be carried out between the Republic of Uganda, the Republic of Kenya and the Republic of South Sudan on the joint development of the crude oil pipeline project.

D. East Africa Tourist Visa and use of National ID/Voter/Student cards as travel as travel documents

• Partner States to discuss the matter of increasing air connectivity in the region and opportunities to lower the cost of air travel in the region.

• The Heads of Immigration, Security Organs, Finance and Tourism to discuss the waiving of visa fees for African nationals in November, 2013 and be concluded before the next summit.

•The Heads of State will launch the East Africa Tourist Visa and the use of ID as travel documents during the 4th of Summit.

•Acknowledged the signing of the bilateral One Stop Border Post (OSBP) agreement between the Republic of Rwanda and the Republic of Uganda.

•The Republic of Uganda to fast track the issuance of national identity cards.

•Each Partner State shall budget for E-visa, E-identity and E-border management systems in the next financial year.

•The Republic of South Sudan to waive visa fees for Rwanda.

E. Single Customs territory

• Partner States to eliminate the remaining Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) with immediate effect.

• Partner States to ensure that transit cargo is equipped with an electronic system by January 2014 for ease of monitoring through the corridor.

• All Partner States to comply with the instructions that transit cargo will be weighed once at the point of entry into each member state territory.

• Partner States to establish a legal committee from the three countries to analyse the joint implementation of Axle Load issues.

F. Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) Development

• The Republic of South Sudan to accede to the existing SGR Tripartite Agreement.

• Kenya to share their SGR detailed design standards by November, 2013.

• Uganda to develop a draft SGR Protocol for discussion by November, 2013.

• Partner States to consider and approve the human resource capacity building strategy by March, 2014. Kenya Railway Training Institute and Tororo Road and Railway Polytechnic Institute to be strengthened as regional institutes.

• Partner States to commit to the undertaking of the SGR development within the stipulated timelines and ensure completion by March, 2018.

• Kenya and Uganda to maintain continuous supervision and monitoring of the terms of the Rift Valley Railway (RVR) concession.

G. Progress on implementation of oil refinery development

• Kenya and Rwanda to respond to the offer by Uganda to invest in the refinery project by December 31, 2013.

H. Financing

• Urged the Ministers of Finance to prioritise financing of the various projects.

• Integrate South Sudan on the joint finance mobilisation strategy.

• Partner States to develop harmonised procurement regulations to be used for all the projects under this Initiative and submit the recommendations during the next summit.

I. General recommendations

• Partner States will develop an ICT infrastructure related concept to share during the next summit.

• The Republic of South Sudan to communicate at a later date the projects they intend to join.

• Partner States to establish dedicated project management teams for all projects.

J. New Projects

• Ministers to consider all areas that can fast track the integration process, including:

• Commodities Exchange

• ICT

• Air Space Management

• Security Cooperation

• Human Resource Capacity Building in relevant areas

H.E. President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, H.E. President Uhuru Kenyatta and H.E. Gen. Salva Kiir Mayardit thanked their host H.E President Paul Kagame for the warm and cordial hospitality extended to them and their delegations during their stay.

The date and venue for the next Summit will be communicated through diplomatic channels.

 

 

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