The EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko said during the opening of the conference in Arusha recently that the Pre-Budget Conference is happening at a time when EAC is finalizing preparations for the 5th EAC Development Strategy 2016/17 – 2020/21.

“I am glad that priorities and development objectives as well as strategic interventions therein stipulated have been validated by Stakeholders’’ The six key areas to be considered in the formulation of the next budget are further liberalisation of the free movement of labour, goods and services, improved cross-border infrastructure to ease the cost of doing business and enhanced regional industrial development.

Others include agricultural productivity and transformation through investment in key priority areas, implementation of the roadmap for the attainment of the EAC Monetary Union, strengthen peace, security and good governance and institutional framework for the EAC Political Confederation.

Moreover, improve socio-cultural welfare of the people in the region and institutional transformation are among the crucial areas that will be considered in guiding the budget formulation as well as corresponding activities for 2018/19 FY.

Amb Mfumukeko urged the participants to appreciate the role of the Organs and Institutions of the Community, as well as the Partner States in moving the integration process forward as they discuss the priority areas, strategic interventions and activities to be implemented over the financial year 2018/19.

Source: Daily News

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