PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Summit
calls for Collective Efforts to Boost East Africa Manufacturing Sector
Kigali, Rwanda: May 26, 2017 - The 2nd East
Africa Manufacturing Business Summit was jointly
organized by East Africa Community Secretariat and East Africa Business Council
and hosted by the Government of Rwanda. The summit themed, ‘Harnessing
the Manufacturing Potential for Sustainable Economic Growth in East Africa’ aimed at deepening the gains made in
developing the manufacturing sector following the holding of the first Summit
in September 2015. The closing ceremony was led by Rt. Hon. Dr.
Ali H. Kirunda Kivejinja, Second Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for EAC
Affairs, Republic of Uganda, Hon. Minister François Kanimba, Minister of Trade, Industry and EAC Affairs,
Republic of Rwanda and Ms. Lilian Awinja EABC CEO.
The summit
recognized that both the public and private sectors are key to driving
industrialization in the region.
“All actors need to scale up
the manufacturing sector to increase the contribution of the Manufacturing
Sector to the EAC GDP from 10% to 25% by 2032” said Ms. Lilian Awinja EABC CEO.
The summit called for EAC
Partner States to develop national policy and law that make industrial
internship mandatory, especially for engineers, technologists and scientists;
development of a regional local content
policy and strategy for better coordination of local content initiatives and implementation of mutual recognition agreements between EAC Bureaux of
Standards.
“The recent discovery of oil
and gas in Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda provides added impetus for
turning round EAC economies towards middle income status” said Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali
H. Kirunda Kivejinja, Second Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for EAC Affairs,
Republic of Uganda.
The summit recommended
for the EAC in partnership with EABC; to detail in a comprehensive,
evidence-based, and consolidated way priority for the CET review proposing four
to five bands as appropriate. The overall aim is to address degree of
processing and encourage backward and forward value addition linkages in the
total value chain of the manufacturing sector as EAC Partner States embark on
comprehensive review of EAC CET.
“We need to walk the talk and take the EAC to a higher
trajectory of achievement, growth and development” stated Rt. Hon. Dr. Ali H.
Kirunda Kivejinja, Second Deputy Prime Minister & Minister for EAC Affairs, Republic of Uganda,
The summit also urged East
Africans to buy East African Products, under the # Buy East Africa, Build East
Africa campaign and reflected in a strong government procurement system that
ensure government sources most of the supplies from local producers. In
addition the summit noted the need to mainstream Science, Technology and innovation in manufacturing sector.
“One very exciting
recommendation from the session on financing was to set up Community
Development Centres to support small and medium enterprises supported by a
National Entrepreneurship Fund in each EAC Partner State.” said Ms. Lilian
Awinja EABC CEO.
The East African Business
Council is ready to rally the business community with the support of the
National Manufacturing Associations to work with the EAC Secretariat and the
National Governments to implement the recommendations and key resolutions that
we have jointly come up with from this Summit.
-END-
Notes
to Editors
The 2nd East African
Manufacturing Business Summit (2EAMBS) co-organized by the East African
Business Council (EABC) and the East African Community (EAC) is scheduled as a
three day event, to take place from 23rd -25th May 2017
at Serena Hotel in Kigali, Rwanda.
The 2EAMBS is co-hosted by
the Rwanda Association of Manufacturers (RAM) and the Rwandan Ministry of Trade
Industry & EAC Affairs and is also strongly supported by all national
Manufacturers' Associations from the EAC partner States.
The East African Business Council (EABC) is the apex body of
business associations of the Private Sector and Corporates from the 5 East
African Countries. It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the
Private Sector in the integration process of the East African Community. For more information about
EABC, visit its website at www.eabc.info.
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