PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EABC Engages Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda on
Vital EAC Integration Issues.
Kampala, Uganda: June 19th, 2017: The East African Business Council today,
during the 18th Annual General Meeting (AGM), appointed its new Executive
Committee Members (ECM) with Mr. Kassim Omar from Kampala, Uganda emerging as
the new Chairman of the ECM for the period 2017/2018. Alongside the 18th Annual
General Meeting (AGM) the EABC Board of Directors and EABC Members from the 5 EAC
Countries paid a courtesy visit to the Rt Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime
Minister of the Republic of Uganda.
Mr. Kassim Omar, EABC
Chairman appreciated HE President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the
Republic of Uganda and Chair of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State for his
commitment to the EAC integration process and urged the President to spearhead the
creation of a conducive environment for private sector in the EAC Integration
Process now that Uganda has taken leadership in the East African Business
Council.
“Uganda should champion the regional local
content policy, BEABEA which will pave way for industrialization and measures
which support job creation and the creation of more wealth in the EAC region”
said Mr. Kassim Omar, EABC Chairman.
Rt Hon. Dr. Ruhakana
Rugunda, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda urged the business community
to play a more active and assertive role in political integration that will
create a better business environment for the East Africa region noting that Africa’s’
export share value to the world is very low.
“Industrialization is key and
indeed the “Buy Uganda - Build Uganda” campaign will be translated to BEABEA to
reinforce regional local content” said Hon. Michael Werikhe, State Minister for Trade Uganda.
“The more value we add to
our raw materials the more money we will get. We are committed to local content
as a country and a region so as to spur job creation and increase export
values” said Rt Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime Minister of the Republic of
Uganda.
Among key issues brought to the attention of Prime
Minister include: Industrialization to unlock the EAC Potential;
Institutionalizing of EABC as an institution to rally the EAC Private Sector in
EAC integration processes; High Cost of Air Transport in the EAC region and
Removal of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs);
Illicit Trade in the EAC Region; Liberalization of Trade in services in the EAC
region; Un-harmonized Domestic Taxes in the EAC region and compensation of outstanding
claims from 2007 post election violence in Kenya.
“The cost of a flight ticket
from Entebbe to Nairobi is the same price as the cost of a flight to Berlin”
said Mr. Kassim Omar, EABC Chair who noted the need for Domestication of the EAC Air Space.
“The regional needs to free barriers to trade
and take advantage of bigger markets” said Mr. Nick Nesbitt, EABC Vice Chair
noting that a small country like Rwanda has the potential to host or nature a
large company that exports world-wide.
”We should have joint
efforts as a region in regional projects such as the Standard Gauge Railway just
as the former East African Railways” said Mr. Samuel Nyantahe, EABC Vice Chair.
The Prime Minister seconded
the need for joint efforts in regional mega projects to spur intra- regional
trade.
“Agriculture and food security should be coordinated at regional level as unilateral measures such as trade barriers and subsidies are counterproductive “said Mr. Kimwaga Mhando, EABC Member from East African Grain Council.
“Women should be involved
more in intra-regional trade” said Ms. Nancy Gitonga, Regional Coordinator East
African Women in Business Platform.
EABC Vice Chair urged the
Prime Minister to drive the Integration forward. The Prime Minister appreciated
the insights form the EAC business community, welcomed the involvement of the business
community including women in trade and noted that the issues will be taken
forward to HE President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of the Republic of
Uganda and Chair of the Summit of the EAC Heads of State.
-END-
Notes
to Editors
Mr. Kassim Omar will be
heading an Executive Committee team of 22 Members that provides Strategic
Direction to the East African Business Council, the apex body of the Private
Sector in East Africa. EABC Changes its board of directors once every year
during the Annual General Meeting. Mr. Omar takes over from Mr. Audace
Ndayizeye who has served for the period 2016-2017. Mr. Kassim Omar is the
National Chairman of Uganda Clearing Industry and Forwarding Association.The
18th AGM was held at the Serena Hotel in Kampala, Uganda, on 16th June
2017.
The Prime Minister also
received claims by business community from Uganda and Rwanda who lost their
property during the post-election violence in Kenya of 2007.
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. At national level, EABC
activities are coordinated through the EABC National Focal Points, who are also
the national private sector umbrella bodies. These are: Federal Chamber of
Commerce and Industries Burundi (FCCIB), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA),
Rwanda Private Sector Federation, Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and
Private Sector Foundation Uganda.
For
more information please contact:
Ms. Lilian Awinja –
Chief Executive Officer
The
East African Business Council (EABC) - The
Voice of Private Sector in East Africa
P. O. Box 2617 | Plot No. 01 | Olorien
House | Perfect Printers Street | Arusha | Tanzania
Mr. Kassim Omar, EABC Chair
shares a copy of EABC Business Agenda to Rt Hon. Dr. Ruhakana Rugunda, Prime Minister of the Republic of Uganda.
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