Japan has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening its strategic partnership with the East African Community (EAC), with a renewed focus on supporting regional integration, infrastructure development, trade facilitation and institutional capacity building.
The commitment was made on Friday during a courtesy visit by Japan’s Ambassador to Tanzania, H.E. Mikami Yoichi, to the EAC Headquarters in Arusha, where he met with the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Stephen Mbundi.
During the meeting, the two officials discussed ways to expand cooperation in areas critical to the region’s economic transformation, including strengthening regional connectivity, improving cross-border trade and enhancing the capacity of EAC institutions.
Japan has been a longstanding development partner of the EAC, supporting a range of regional initiatives through agencies such as the Japan International Cooperation Agency. These initiatives have focused on improving infrastructure, facilitating trade and advancing the bloc’s broader regional integration agenda.
Ambassador Mikami reiterated Japan’s readiness to continue working closely with the EAC to promote sustainable development and economic integration across the region.
The meeting underscores the growing partnership between Japan and the East African Community as the regional bloc seeks to accelerate infrastructure investments, remove barriers to trade and strengthen cooperation among its eight member states to boost economic growth and competitiveness.