On 15th March 2010, the European Union and the four Regional Economic Communities of the Eastern and Southern Africa and Indian Ocean (ESAIO) Region, namely IGAD, COMESA, EAC, and IOC signed project financing agreements totalling 118 million Euros to support diverse regional economic integration and development projects (see details in the table below).

The projects are the first to be granted under the 10^th European Development Fund (EDF 10) where 645 million Euros has been allocated to the ESAIO Region for the period between 2008 and 2013.

The signing ceremony was conducted at the Nairobi Hilton Hotel in the presence of the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Finance of the Republic of Kenya, Hon. Uhuru Kenyatta.

While on one hand, the EU was represented by Mr. Gary Quince, Director of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific at the EuropeAid Office of the European Union Commission in Brussels; on the other hand, the ESAIO Region was represented by the Chief Executive Officer of IGAD, COMESA and IOC, namely Eng. Mahboub Maalim, Mr. Sindiso Ngwenya, Amb. Callixte d’Offay respectively and the Deputy Secretary General of EAC, Dr. Julius Rotich.

For more information, contact Mr. Maina karaba (maina.karaba@igad.int),
Acting Director for Agriculture and Environment at the IGAD Secretariat