The Nairobi summit of the Northern Corridor Integration Project countries, of host countries Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and South Sudan, discussed a range of issues regarding the implementation of the various infrastructure projects which are now under construction or in the final planning stages.

Launched in June 2013 in the town of Entebbe by host countries Uganda, Kenya, and Rwanda to fast-track a range of projects and objectives held captive by reluctant East African Community partners, the three over the past two years accomplished major progress, soon having South Sudan join the coalition.

While South Sudan struggled to make meaningful contributions to the partnership due to its internal strife, therefore, leaving the country largely at the level of intent rather than action, the three founder members have seen the advance of the construction of the new Standard Gauge Railway, which will, when complete, link the port of Mombasa with the Kenyan capital of Nairobi and beyond to the Ugandan border. From there, Uganda will then complete the link to Kampala plus a branch section to the northern town of Gulu, the springboard to South Sudan due to its relative closeness to the border.

The core countries of Uganda, Rwanda, and Kenya agreed on the integration of its airspaces to remove any remaining pending nontariff barriers for the aviation industry, effectively allowing the existing national airlines Kenya Airways and RwandAir to offer unlimited air access for domestic, regional, and international flights.

The launch of the common tourist visa was also a major step forward, giving tourist visitors a cheaper visa option when coming to the region, intent to travel within the three countries. Equally important, the lifting of visa requirements for duly-registered expatriates in the three countries holding residency or work permits, has been welcomed by the region’s tourism bodies as it allowed to tap into a major market segment which, due to the visa cost involved, in the past often opted to take short breaks in Dubai instead of flocking to Kenya’s beaches.

The announcement of the Democratic Republic of Congo that the country will formally join the NCIP cooperation at the next summit, shows the growing importance and economic impact and opportunities the fast-tracking of East African Community plans that have been accomplished in a short period of time.

Congo’s entire eastern region is more closely linked to the Indian Ocean port of Mombasa via East African neighbors Rwanda and Uganda than to Kinshasa and the Atlantic coast. A rail link joining the upcoming standard gauge railway, or even to link to the existing narrow gauge railway branch from Kampala to Kasese (this track is presently dormant but due for a re-opening) would greatly benefit imports to and exports from Eastern Congo. Importing refined fuel products from Uganda, once the new refinery is ready and has started production, will cut the cost of fuel at the pumps in Eastern Congo dramatically by removing the transport cost from the port to the consumer.

While neither South Sudan or Congo DR are expected to sign up to the common visa any time soon, Congo may, however, eye the aviation cooperation as another option to get better connected to the rest of the world.

Additional observers to the Nairobi summit, besides the delegation from Congo DR, came notably from Ethiopia, a country which has shown increasing interest to become a major player in the wider Eastern African region’s economic development.

The private sector was for the first time comprehensively represented at the summit, making good of past resolutions to promote a greater and more intense public-private partnership, especially for project components which require the private sector to assist in financing and implementation.

This sadly leaves Tanzania still out of the equation after the country opted to stay away from what was then promptly dubbed the “Coalition of the Willing,” relegating both Burundi and Tanzania in the eye of the media and wider public opinion across the East African Community to the level of a “Coalition of the Un-willing.”

With President Kikwete now winding up his presidency – him personally seen as the main brake-shoe in Eastern Africa due to his cool relationship with neighbor Kenya – hope has already been expressed that the newly-elected president will change course and bring Tanzania back into the core of the EAC, as a co-driver and not just a reluctant passenger.

Tourism and trade would no doubt benefit from a return to the days of the Mkapa presidency in Tanzania when bilateral relations with neighbors were at an all-time high, and investments from Kenya poured into Tanzania at a record pace.

It is clear from the major advances made by the NCIP member countries, in particular vis-a-vis tourism and aviation, that much more can be achieved by working together than working in isolation.

Download the Joint Communiqué issued following the Summit below.