Sh40m to deepen EAC integration awareness, says CS Phyllis Kandie

Cabinet Secretary for East African Affairs, Commerce and Tourism Phyllis Kandie speaks at the East Africa Business Council meeting at Villa Rosa Hotel, Nairobi October 4, 2013. Ms Kandie government has set aside Sh40 million to increase awareness on the benefits of the East African Community (EAC) integration. ANTHONY OMUYA 

In Summary

• Phyllis Kandie: Move aimed at educating people on the opportunities presented by regional integration.

By YVONE KAWIRA
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The government has set aside Sh40 million to increase awareness on the benefits of the East African Community (EAC) integration.

Speaking at the second EAC Day in Nairobi Friday, East African Affairs, Tourism and Commerce Cabinet Secretary Phyllis Kandie said it is a move aimed at educating people on the opportunities presented by regional integration.

“The EAC leaders have moved but left the people behind. I encourage government officers from the relevant ministries as well as EAC secretariat staff to ensure that queries and grey areas that need to be clarified are accorded the necessary attention,” Ms Kandie said.

In September, the EAC was involved in a branding project that was aimed at determining how East Africans perceive the regional integration bloc.

Researchers from the East African Community toured various counties in the country to collect views from the public on how they view EAC.

An online survey was also launched targeting all the staff of the EAC organs, institutions, and Ministries of EAC Affairs in the Partner States irrespective of the rank or position. It also targeted external stakeholders within and outside the region.

The first draft of the results is expected by mid-October after the online survey is concluded.

VISUAL IDENTITY

According to the EAC Secretary General, Richard Sezibera, the process is aimed at stimulating EAC’s visual identity and developing a design guide.

“The purpose of the brand analysis is to conduct a baseline study to explore how EAC is perceived by target audiences, assess whether there is a common look and feel in our marketing and communication materials and if key messages get across,” said Dr Sezibera.

According to Ms Kandie, the benefits accruing to the EAC partner states have seen remarkable improvement in intra-EAC trade.

“For instance, there has been an increase in the value of exports between 2008 and 2012 from Sh83.9 billion to Sh134.9 billion,” said Ms Kandie.

Imports also rose in value from Sh12.6 billion to Sh30.9 billion within the same period.

The secretary general noted that this leap shows positive growth in the regional trade in favour of all the partner states combined.