Rwanda has reaffirmed its dedication to the NCIPs and remains committed to working collaboratively with partner states to achieve regional development goals.
Rwanda on the 10th July, convened a successful Northern Corridor Integration Projects (NCIPs) with National Coordinators’ Virtual Meeting.
This significant meeting, led by Ms. Clementine Mukeka the National Coordinator and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Rwanda, demonstrated the commitment of the NCIPs member states to regional infrastructural development and cooperation.
The meeting, chaired by Ms. Clementine Mukeka, brought together key representatives from the NCIPs member states, including Dr Alice Yalla, Secretary for East African Community Integration representing Mr. Abdi Dubat the, National Coordinator of NCIPs and Principal Secretary of State Department for East African Community of the Republic of Kenya; Hon. Biel Jock Thuch, National Coordinator for Northern Corridor of the Republic of South Sudan; and Amb. Richard Kabonero, National Coordinator of the Republic of Uganda.
In her opening remarks, Ms. Mukeka emphasized the importance of assessing the progress of various NCIPs clusters, implementation statuses, and joint frameworks. She reaffirmed Rwanda’s commitment to hosting the 15th Summit of NCIPs and called for active engagement and collaboration among member states. The agenda for the meeting was adopted without amendments, ensuring a focused and productive session.
Dr Alice Yalla on behalf of the National Coordinator of Kenya highlighted Kenya’s achievements over the past decade and expressed optimism about the future of NCIPs. She emphasized the importance of continued multilateral cooperation to address development challenges and open new markets.
Hon. Biel Jock Thuch, expressed his eagerness to contribute to the NCIPs initiatives and looked forward to strengthening collaboration with other member states. He acknowledged the economic challenges faced by South Sudan but reaffirmed their commitment to addressing these issues.
Amb. Richard Kabonero, National Coordinator for Uganda, in his remarks, extended gratitude to Rwanda for hosting the meeting amidst their busy election period. He recalled the bilateral NCIP Consultative meetings in Kigali and Nairobi, emphasizing the revived commitment to NCIPs and infrastructure projects.
Amb. Kabonero provided a comprehensive update on the progress of clusters coordinated by Uganda, highlighting significant achievements in ICT and Infrastructure Development, Standard Gauge Railways (SGR), Project Financing and Private Sector Participation, and Oil Refinery Development.
Discussions during the meeting also covered the implementation of joint Memoranda of Understanding (MoU’s) and frameworks in line with NCIPs, including the single tourist visa, ONA MoU, and the Defense and Security Act. Member states reaffirmed their commitment to these agreements and discussed innovative approaches to enhance collaboration.
In her closing remarks, Ms. Mukeka expressed appreciation for the active participation and productive engagements. She highlighted the importance of frequent communication among focal points and outlined a clear roadmap for the NCIPs.
