EAC seeks deeper China ties for trade, infrastructure

ARUSHA: THE East African Community (EAC) has received 180,000 US dollars (about 474.7m/-) in annual financial support from China, with the regional bloc seeking to expand cooperation beyond institutional assistance to infrastructure, trade, climate resilience, green energy, digitalisation and human-capital development.

EAC Secretary General, Ambassador Stephen Mbundi said the contribution demonstrated China’s continued support for regional integration and institutional development. Ambassador Mbundi was speaking in Arusha on Monday during the signing of a Certificate of Donation with Chinese Ambassador to Tanzania, Ms Chen Mingjian.

Ambassador Mbundi said the contribution for the 2025/26 financial year supported various EAC activities, including election observation, the EAC Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair, senior-level engagements, management and organisational development and communication of the regional integration agenda.

“We particularly appreciate China’s annual contribution of US180,000 dollars to the EAC budget,” he said.

However, he said the community wanted to move beyond institutional support and establish broader cooperation capable of generating tangible benefits for EAC Partner States.

“We wish to broaden cooperation from institutional support towards regional infrastructure and connectivity, trade and market access, climate adaptation and green energy, digitalisation and technology transfer, and human-capital development,” he said.

Amb Mbundi also acknowledged China’s wider assistance to the EAC, including staff training and knowledge exchange, as well as the donation of eight vehicles in 2023 valued at approximately 400,000 US dollars. He said EAC officials had also participated in a seminar in Beijing on Green Economy and Environmental Protection under China’s Global Development Initiative (GDI).

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The Secretary General said the GDI provided opportunities for deeper cooperation as the EAC implements its recently launched Seventh Development Strategy. He proposed structured EAC-China dialogue to identify regional projects in trade-enhancing infrastructure and connectivity, industrialisation and value addition, climate adaptation, green energy, digital trade, food security and development financing.

Ambassador Mbundi said the EAC will particularly welcome project-based cooperation combining financing, technology and knowledge transfer, capacity development and privatesector participation. He added that the community welcomed continued consideration of its request for ICT equipment and expanded thematic training.

For her part, Ms Chen said the annual contribution reflected China’s continued support for the EAC andits efforts to strengthen cooperation, integration and connectivity among Partner States. She recalled that her previous visit to the EAC headquarters in 2023 involved the handover of vehicles donated by the Chinese government to strengthen the Community’s operational capacity.

“I came here once again for a similar purpose, and China is very happy to donate US180,000 dollars to the EAC for capacity building and budget,” she said.

The ambassador said China regarded itself as a long-standing friend of the EAC and would continue working with the regional bloc to advance integration and development for the benefit of its Partner States. She commended the progress made by the EAC in advancing regional integration, particularly under the leadership of Secretary General Veronica Nduva. Ms Chen said the community had continued to address important regional issues, including health emergencies, political integration and connectivity.

“China appreciates that, and we would like to join hands with EAC for the well-being and further development of EAC and all the member states,” she said.

She added that China remained committed to working closely with the EAC to strengthen regional cooperation and promote closer links among Partner States. The latest contribution is expected to support EAC institutional operations and capacity-building programmes as the Community continues implementing its regional integration agenda.