economic growth
The East African Community (EAC) was revived in July 2000. Since then, there has been some progress registered in expansion of trade between the five member countries, especially with the Customs Union that brought together Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda in 2004, with Rwanda and Burundi joining in 2008. According to the EAC Development Strategy for 2011/12 to 2015/16, intra-EAC trade grew by 40 percent between 2005 and 2009.
For the first time in many years, Africa has enjoyed a period of strong and sustained economic growth. The agricultural sector has also grown at a moderate rate, and this growth has contributed to significant reductions in poverty in many African countries. This improved agricultural performance is consistent with continentwide initiatives—one of the most important being the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme—which aim to raise rural incomes, reduce poverty, and increase food and nutrition security through agricultural investment and growth.