East Africa, Germany renew cooperation with €39.8 million grant for regional integration
The agreement also signals continued confidence in regional cooperation at a time when East African economies are seeking to strengthen intra-regional trade and build resilience through greater economic interconnectedness.
EAC, Germany renew cooperation with €39.8 million grant for regional integration
The East African Community (EAC) and Germany have renewed their cooperation with a €39.8 million grant commitment to support regional trade, economic integration and sustainable development across East Africa.
The funding was announced following the conclusion of Development Cooperation Negotiations between the EAC and the Federal Republic of Germany in Arusha, Tanzania.
The agreement is expected to strengthen implementation of the EAC’s 7th Development Strategy, with a focus on deepening regional integration and expanding opportunities for trade and economic growth among partner states.
The cooperation agreement was signed by EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs, Annette Ssemuwemba, and Joachim Schmitt, Head of the Central and East Africa Division at Germany’s Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).
The negotiations reaffirmed the two sides’ shared commitment to advancing East African trade and economic integration, which remain central pillars of the long-standing EAC-Germany partnership.
The €39.8 million grant will provide additional resources for regional programmes aimed at strengthening economic cooperation and supporting sustainable development across the EAC region.
The renewed partnership comes as East African countries seek to deepen regional markets, reduce barriers to cross-border trade and strengthen the competitiveness of businesses operating within the Community.
Regional integration has increasingly become a key economic priority for the EAC, which is pursuing measures to facilitate the movement of goods and services, improve trade infrastructure and create a more integrated regional market.
Germany has been a longstanding development partner of the EAC, supporting programmes in regional integration, trade and sustainable development.
The latest financing commitment reinforces Germany’s continued support for the Community’s efforts to build a more connected and economically competitive East African region.
The negotiations also provide a framework for continued cooperation between the EAC Secretariat and Germany as the Community implements its 7th Development Strategy.
The strategy seeks to accelerate regional economic transformation by strengthening integration, improving trade and investment, enhancing productive capacity and promoting sustainable development across partner states.
The renewed cooperation is therefore expected to contribute to the EAC’s broader efforts to translate regional integration into tangible economic opportunities for businesses, investors and citizens across East Africa.
The agreement also signals continued confidence in regional cooperation at a time when East African economies are seeking to strengthen intra-regional trade and build resilience through greater economic interconnectedness.
