Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza

East Africa must put more emphasis on development of infrastructure in the energy and transport sectors across the region, Burundian President Pierre Nkurunziza has said. “We are encouraged by developments in some regional infrastructure such as the new railway extension from Isaka, Tanzania to Kigali in Rwanda and Keza-Musongati in Burundi,” Nkurunziza, who is also the chairperson of the East African Community (EAC) Heads of State Summit, said yesterday in the Rwandan capital, Kigali.

He was addressing the fourth session of the East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) in Rwanda’s Parliament Chambers. “This is a significant signal that the region’s land is getting linked, which can be supported by similar air and maritime transportation projects,” Nkurunziza said, adding that there was a need to translate the regional master plan for transport and energy development into viable infrastructure if the EAC is to reap the benefits of regional integration.

To deal with power shortages that hamper regional industrialization, Nkurunziza said immediate action must be taken to develop energy sources.  He said roads and railways which connect agricultural areas, markets and industries, were important components of the region’s economy and eventual political integration.

“The focus to develop infrastructure should not be limited to regional interconnections,” he said. “It must extend to improving national infrastructures in each of the partner states.”

Nkurunziza urged the Community’s five member states of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to open their borders to ease regional trade, which he said was currently impeded by non-tariff barriers. While opening the Eala session earlier, Rwandan President Paul Kagame pointed to non-tariff barriers as a hindrance to free trade within the region.

Regarding other regional economic blocs, Nkurunziza said the EAC was committed to a tripartite agreement between the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa), the EAC and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on the establishment a free trade zone in the regions covered by the blocs.He said one-stop border points should be put in place to enable free flow of goods and services across the regional borders.

By East African News Agency, The Citizen

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