SIGNING OF THE MRA FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN EAST AFRICA JOINT STATEMENT

From Left the Registrars, Eng Gilbert Arasa, of the Engineers Board of Kenya, Eng Steven Mlote of the Engineers Board of The United Republic of Tanzania, and Eng James Okiror of the Engineers Board of the Republic of Uganda Signed The Mutual Recognition Agreement For Professional Engineers In East Africa.

SIGNING OF THE MRA FOR PROFESSIONAL ENGINEERS IN EAST AFRICA

JOINT STATEMENT

The Registrars from the Republic of Kenya; Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania witnessed by representatives of the Republics of Burundi and Rwanda and Institution of Engineers from the Republic of Kenya; Republic of Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania held the signing ceremony for the Mutual Recognition Agreement for Professional Engineers in the East African Community on the 7^th December 2012 in Arusha, Tanzania.

 

The Registrars thanked the EAC Secretariat and the EAC-GIZ cooperation programme that have facilitated and coordinated the competent authorities to negotiate and sign Mutual Recognition Agreements to hasten movement of engineers. 

 

The Registrars and the presidents of the engineering registration Boards in the Signatory Partner States highlighted some of the benefits expected from the signature of the MRA, they hoped that it will facilitate  the movement of professional engineers and maintain  the diversity of the engineering service providers that come onto the EAC markets; facilitate  economic integration; increase availability of greater consumer choice of engineering services and engineering institutions;  increase opportunities for mutual learning and the transmission of regulatory experience; harmonise the engineering services and enhance stimulus for professional engineers  to make the necessary adaptations to the changing economic and social environments, thereby also raising professional standards as well as the level of access to professional engineering services.

 

The registrars recalled the 2^nd EAC Heads of State Retreat on Infrastructure Development and Financing “Deepening the EAC integration Process through Development of Efficient Infrastructure Systems to support Industrialization and Trade” that took place on 29^th November 2012. EAC Heads of State embraced the need for strong infrastructure partnerships with neighboring countries for the development of regional infrastructure, exploitation and interconnection of power and energy resources between EAC partner states and the neighboring states.

 

The registrars emphasized the great role they have to play in regard to infrastructure development and signing the MRA is the stepping stone to facilitating engineering  professionals in effectively playing their role. 

 

The registrars underlined one of the major challenges in realizing the full potential of engineers. To date for every 65,000 people there is 1 engineer in the EAC, this emphases the gap that needs to be filled thus, there is need to build diversity to have engineers ready to serve the East Africa population adequately.

 

The registrars applauded the involvement of the Republics of Burundi and Rwanda. Despite the fact that they are not parties to the agreement today they have witnessed all the discussions that led to the development of the MRA. The Republics of Burundi and Rwanda are yet to carry out professional conformity assessments. In addition, the two countries are still in the process of establishing the necessary legal and institutional framework for the engineering profession. The registrars look forward to the Republics of Burundi and Rwanda appending the MRA in due time.

The Registrars, Eng Gilbert Arasa of the Engineers Board of Kenya, Eng Steven Mlote of the Engineers Board of The United Republic of Tanzania, and Eng James Okiror of the Engineers Board of the Republic of Uganda Signed The Mutual Recognition Agreement For Professional Engineers In East Africa.

The signing was witnessed by Eng Julius Riungu, the Chairman of the Institution of Engineers of the Republic of Kenya; Eng Mussa Kimaka, the Acting President of the Institution of Engineers of the United Republic of Tanzania and; Eng Jackson Mubangizi the President of the Institution of Engineers of the Republic of Uganda.

The signed agreement was handed over by the chairman of the registrars Eng James Okiror from the   Republic of Uganda to the EAC Secretary General represented by Mr. Philip Wambugu, Director Infrastructure, to submit it to the institutions of the East Africa Community.

 

Done at Arusha Tanzania, this 7^th day of December 2012.