On October 22nd 2008 following a meeting of heads of state from the EAC, COMESA and SADC, an initial agreement was signed to create a free-trade area between the SADC, EAC and COMESA, embracing 26 countries with a combined GDP of US$624 billion. It was agreed to establish a ‘road map’ for building a ‘single and integrated regional economic community’. This followed on from earlier ministerial calls dating back to February 2008 for the creation of a broader African free-trade area.

Shortly afterwards, in mid-November a meeting took place between the SACU and EAC secretariats to discuss technical cooperation on issues faced in establishing and managing a customs union and on the scope for a SADC-EAC free-trade agreement. It was agreed that a detailed impact assessment should be carried out alongside the elaboration of a more detailed operational proposal.

Meanwhile, according to press reports, the government of Kenya is calling for a ‘fast-track programme that will enable it to sign a comprehensive EPA with the EU by July [2009]’.