The 48th Sectoral Council on Trade, Industry, Finance and Investment (SCTIFI) of the East African Community (EAC) has officially begun today, May 29, 2026, in Arusha at the EAC Headquarters, bringing together regional experts and senior officials to advance economic integration across the region.
The meeting, which plays a key role in shaping policies on trade, industry, finance and investment within the EAC, has started with an experts’ session running from May 29 to June 1, 2026.
This will be followed by meetings of Permanent or Principal Secretaries from June 2 to June 3, before culminating in a Ministerial Session scheduled for June 4, 2026.
The discussions are expected to focus on key regional priorities, including the review of progress made in implementing decisions from the previous SCTIFI meeting.
Delegates will also examine reports from several technical committees, such as the Customs Committee, the East African Standards Committee, the Investment Committee, the Competition Policy Committee, and the Industry Committee.
Speaking during the opening of the experts’ session, the Director of Customs at the EAC Secretariat, Ms. Flavia Busingye, called on participants to engage in practical and solution-oriented discussions that will help address long-standing challenges affecting trade within the region.
She emphasized that removing barriers to trade remains essential for strengthening economic cooperation among Partner States, noting that issues such as tax-related challenges and non-tariff barriers continue to slow down business growth across the region.
Ms. Busingye further urged member states to strengthen coordination and ensure full implementation of decisions agreed in previous meetings, particularly those adopted by the EAC Heads of State, stressing that implementation is key to achieving tangible results.
The SCTIFI meeting is expected to contribute significantly to efforts aimed at boosting regional economic growth by improving the investment climate, expanding cross-border trade, and supporting industrial development among member states.
It also seeks to enhance cooperation in addressing shared economic challenges facing the region.
Tanzania’s delegation to the experts’ session is led by the Director of Trade, Investment and Productive Sectors in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation, Mr. Benjamini Mwesiga.
He is accompanied by the Director of the Global Strategy and Policy Unit, Ambassador Thobias Makoba, along with other senior government officials.
The EAC continues to position economic integration as a key pillar for development, with SCTIFI serving as one of the most important platforms for shaping policies that guide the region’s trade and investment agenda.
As discussions continue in Arusha, stakeholders remain optimistic that the outcomes of the 48th SCTIFI meeting will help unlock new opportunities, strengthen cooperation, and accelerate economic transformation across East Africa.
