The Republic of Ireland has hailed the commitment of the six East African Community or EAC partner states to integration process.
Ireland’s Ambassador to Tanzania and the EAC Paul Sherlock disclosed that his country would continue to promote trade and development cooperation with EAC.
He said that Ireland’s experience within the European Union was that every regional integration process has its challenges which can be surmounted through negotiations by the member countries.
Ambassador Sherlock said Ireland would continue to provide support to EAC integration initiatives through Trade Mark East Africa.
The Irish envoy was speaking when he paid a courtesy call at the EAC Headquarters where he held discussions with senior officers from the EAC Directorates of Customs and Trade.
Director of Trade at the EAC Secretariat, Alhaj Kibowa informed the Ambassador Sherlock that the Community was increasingly encouraging bilateral mechanisms among Partner States to resolve non-tariff barriers to trade.
He said the Community had embarked on ambitious infrastructure development in the roads, railways, ports and energy sectors to spur economic growth and trade in East Africa.