Textile and tanner industries in East Africa are set for a revival as East African Community member states have agreed to set up a mechanism that will promote growth and protection of the two industries. The region is committed to utilizing effectively the potential in textiles and skins and hides to reduce dependence on imports of second hand clothes and shoes.

The East African Community (EAC) is a regional inter-governmental organisation consisting of the republics of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Uganda with its headquarters in Tanzania.

The EAC’s vision is a prosperous, competitive, secure, stable and politically united East Africa and its mission is to widen and deepen economic, political, social and cultural integration in order to improve the quality of life of the people of east Africa through increased competitiveness, value added production, trade and investments.

The EAC aims at widening and deepening co-operation among partner states, among others, political, economic and social fields for their mutual benefit. To this extent the EAC countries established a customs union in 2005 and a common market in 2010.

The next phase of the integration will see the block enter into a monetary union and ultimately become a political federation of the east African states.