On Friday, February 20, 2026, President Paul Kagame received Veronica M. Nduva, secretary-general of the East African Community (EAC), in Kigali during a meeting organized by the regional bloc.
The discussions focused on addressing persistent challenges that continue to hinder trade among EAC member states and on reinforcing the implementation of the customs union and the common market.
According to the Office of the President at Village Urugwiro, the talks also emphasized promoting trade, regional cooperation, and projects aimed at improving livelihoods and inclusive development across the community.
Trade between EAC member states remains below 15 percent. However, data shows that intra-regional trade has nearly doubled over the past six years, increasing from $3.2 billion in 2017 to $6.3 billion in 2023.
Meanwhile, the combined GDP of EAC countries grew from $87 billion in 1990 to $293 billion in 2023, with projections indicating it could reach $954 billion by 2043.
