The African Union Commission (AUC), in collaboration with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, has launched a three-day regional consultation to advance the implementation and domestication of the African Union Commodity Strategy. The high-level meeting in Arusha brings together policymakers, private sector leaders, and technical experts from all eight EAC Partner States Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Tanzania to develop a clear roadmap for commodity-led industrialization.

The consultations are designed to achieve three key objectives:

• To coordinate the domestication of the AU Commodity Strategy and its Action Plan within the EAC.
• To facilitate the provision of technical assistance and capacity building from the EAC Secretariat to its Partner States.
• To establish a regional mechanism for monitoring and evaluating progress

Speaking at the opening session, Mrs. Ron Osman Omar, Director for Industry, Minerals, Entrepreneurship, and Tourism at the African Union Commission, emphasized the urgency of the strategy in realizing Africa's long-term development goals.

"We are gathered here today to advance a critical mission, one that lies at the heart of Agenda 2063, 'The Africa We Want'," stated Mrs. Omar. "Africa is a continent blessed with an immense wealth of natural resources. Yet, for too long, this endowment has not translated into the structural transformation and inclusive development our people deserve."

The AU Commodity Strategy, a flagship project of Agenda 2063, was adopted in February 2022 to shift Africa's economic model from a supplier of raw materials to a continent that strategically adds value to its resources, fostering sustainable industrialization and inclusive growth.

In his remarks, Mr. Amani Shipella, a Natural Resource Management Specialist representing the EAC Secretary-General, highlighted the strategy's transformative potential and affirmed the region's dedication to its success.

"The AU Commodity Strategy is not only a continental blueprint but also a critical framework for transforming Africa’s economic trajectory," he noted. "The EAC Secretariat is fully committed to supporting its implementation within our region, recognizing that this is a call to action for all of us at the regional and national levels."

The event includes participants from relevant African Union Commission departments, AU Technical Offices, Specialized Agencies, the African Minerals and Geosciences Centre (AMGC), the EAC Secretariat, and private sector stakeholders. The outcomes are expected to create stronger synergies between continental, regional, and national initiatives, enhancing regional value chains and ensuring that the benefits of natural resources foster prosperity across East Africa.

During the meeting, member states from various countries presented the progress made in the implementation of the African Union (AU) Commodity Strategy and its accompanying Action Plan. Each country shared insights into their national efforts and contributions toward achieving the strategy’s goals. Somalia highlighted the central role of agriculture in its economy. South Sudan’s presentation focused on strengthening commodity markets, pricing, linkages and diversification, skill development and governance.

Kenya shared their best practices in policy alignment of Kenya’s BETA agriculture pillar alongside with impacts of the fertilizer subsidy, tea value chain, edible oils and cotton value chain. Tanzania emphasized its position as an emerging petroleum hub in East Africa, with 57.54 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of natural gas reserves. Burundi shared its key objective in the energy sector, which is to strengthen the performance of services through improved infrastructure and equipment .Additionally, Uganda underscored its petroleum potential, with a particular focus on the development of the East African Crude Oil Pipeline (EACOP).

The Regional Consultations for the Implementation of the AU Commodity Strategy will continue to COMESA, SADC, and ECOWAS, which are among the eight recognized RECs serving as foundational pillars of African integration. These consultations are critical to aligning regional priorities with the African Union Commodity Strategy (AUCS), ensuring that resource-based development, value addition, and intra-African trade are driven forward in a harmonized and inclusive manner.

Media Contact:

For further information, please contact:

1. Ms. Faith Adhiambo | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail ochiengj@africanunion.org
2. Mr. Noel John | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail: Kenyin@africanunion.org