Study to Contribute to Regional Ports Development Strategy for EAC Region

MEFMI received a grant from the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) for capacity development for effective growth and sustainable development in Eastern and Southern Africa. One of the key components of the project grant is the aspect of Energy and Transport Infrastructure. In addition, under this project, the ACBF targeted Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to benefit from the financial support channelled through capacity building institutions that include MEFMI.  In this regard, as a recipient of the grant, MEFMI offered to support the East African Community (EAC) to do a study that the EAC already commissioned.

The study on “Mapping the EAC Regional Ports with Complimentary Transport Infrastructure to Facilitate Trade” is envisaged to contribute to the crafting of a Regional Ports Development Strategy in the EAC region. The EAC Regional Ports Development Strategy is poised to become the EAC’s key planning document for guiding regional policies and investments in the ports sector and complimentary infrastructure. Through a very competitive technical and financial bidding process, the services of the Maritime & Transport Business Solutions (MTBS) were engaged to conduct the study, which is to be completed by end of October 2018.  

MTBS is a reputable international finance and strategy advisory firm, offering entrepreneurial business solutions to clients in the maritime and transport sector, specialising in ports and terminals.  They provide advice in the areas of strategy, valuation, transactions and finance.

An Inception Workshop was conducted at the EAC Head Quarters in Arusha, Tanzania from 9-11 July 2018 which was attended by Dr. Sehliselo Mpofu (Director – Macroeconomic Management Programme) and Mr. Senei Molapo (Programme Manager – Macroeconomic Management).  EAC was represented by Dr. Jovin Mwemezi (Corridor Management Advisor) and Dr. Patrick Kennedy Mugoya (Senior Research Fellow). MTBS was represented by Mr. Xander Uyttenbroek (Analyst); Mr. Paul van Eulem (Team Leader and Transport Infrastructure Development Expert) and Mr. Ernst Dencher (Consultant). 

The key objective of the Inception Workshop was to firm up the work plan by rationalising the scope of work, modifying the work plan and ensuring effective delivery in line with the goals and objectives of the study, the time lines agreed on and the budget. Clarifications were made on some issues and assistance was rendered where required by the institutions. MTBS had the opportunity to present the framework for the inventory of the required facilities, legislative/regulatory infrastructure, costs and other relevant information needed to implement the project, as well as any revisions.

Dr. Kamugisha Kazaura (EAC Director of Infrastructure), made assurances that the EAC would assist MTBS with the logistical arrangements regarding introductions in the region where data will be collected and other related data collection processes in the sampled institutions in the EAC region. Standing communication arrangements, are critical for the purpose of easing the data collection process and for assuring buy-in and ownership of the study by EAC Partner States.

The official opening of the Inception Workshop was done by the EAC Deputy Secretary General (DSG) responsible for Planning, Finance, Administration and Infrastructure, Engineer Steven D. M. Mlote. In his remarks, the Engineer Mlote commended MEFMI for the financial support to EAC, which is envisaged to simultaneously address infrastructure vulnerabilities and deficits in the EAC region. He expressed his gratitude to MEFMI and thanked MTBS for accepting to do the study. Engineer Mlote added that the meeting marked the beginning of greater networking links among the respective institutions.  He said he envisaged this would be beneficial for future assignments among the institutions.

Engineer Mlote pointed out that the EAC Partner States were in agreement regarding the need for cooperation in order to spearhead investment in the region. To this end, an EAC Model Investment Code was drafted in 2002, while development of an EAC Investment Policy and Strategy is ongoing. He stated that the work would not be complete without including few more ports such as Mombasa, South Sudan; Juba, Rubavu, Bujumbura, Port Bell, Kigomo and Dar es Salaam. He reminded the team that the Study was prioritised in the first ever EAC Research Agenda for 2017/18-2019/20, which was adopted by 27th Meeting of the Sectoral Council of Ministers responsible for EAC Affairs and Planning in Arusha held from 30th October to 3rd November 2017.  In this regard, the study originated from the EAC and is for the benefit of the EAC Region.

Speaking at the same event, Dr. Mpofu expressed gratitude to the EAC team that initiated the study and also spent some months doing background collaborative work with MEFMI, leading to the inception stage of the study. She highlighted the need for the three institutions to work closely and she appealed to MTBS to maintain their good standards in executing the project. She explained that by the end of the Inception Workshop, data collection was to start immediately as planned.

The team members appreciated the financial support from ACBF, and committed to deliver accordingly.