THE East African Community (EAC) Deputy Secretary General in charge of Planning and Infrastructure, Eng Steven Mlote, has reaffirmed the commitment of the EAC Secretariat to infrastructure development aimed at boosting intra-regional trade and free movement of persons across the Community's seven partner states.

Eng Mlote recently assured a visiting delegation from the Parliament of Tanzania Parliamentary Committee responsible for Foreign Affairs, Defence and Security, of the EAC's readiness to implement various infrastructure projects coordinated jointly by the Secretariat and partner states.

The committee led by its Chairperson, Vita Rashid Kawawa, was on a one-day working tour to the EAC Headquarters in Arusha over the weekend. They also toured the 42.4 km Arusha ByPass road, which was launched by the EAC Head of States in July this year.

Eng Mlote cited ongoing infrastructure development projects including the Arusha-Holili-Taveta-Voi road, Malindi-Mombasa-Lunga Lunga/Horo Horo-Tanga-Bagamoyo road, Nyakanazi-Kasulu-Manyovu-Rumonge-Bujumbura road, Lusahunga-Rusumo/Kayonza-Kigali road, Masaka-Mutukula/Mutukula-Kyaka road and Bugene-Kasulo-Kumunazi road.

"Other projects are Uvinza-Kanyani, Uvinza-Mpanda and Kibondo-Mabamba/Gisuru-Rusengo and Makebuko-Bugarama roads, Kakira- Malaba and Busitema- Busia-Kisumu-Kisian-Busia (proposed expressway) road," said Eng Mlote.

On his part, Mr Kawawa expressed the committee's gratitude for information shared by the EAC Secretariat and requested that the entire Parliament should be informed about the ongoing programmes and projects which aim to ease transportation in the region.

"Infrastructure is a very important enabler in the EAC region in terms of helping to transport farm produce and different goods to the market," said Kawawa.