PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
Expedite Implementation of the
recommendations of the EAC Secretary General Fora, EABC Urges
·
EABC leads talks with Amb. Liberat
Mfumukeko on Improving EAC Integration Process
Nairobi, Kenya: July
23, 2018: The 6th
Annual EAC Secretary General’s Forum themed “Strategizing for impact:
People-Centred and Market-Driven Integration” kicked off today at the Crowne
Plaza Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The East African Business Council is the current
Chair of the Regional Dialogue Committee of 6th Annual EAC Secretary General’s
Forum. The Forum aims to provide a platform for regular dialogue between the
EAC Secretary General and the Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest
groups on how to improve the EAC integration process.
“The forum aims to take stock
of the achievements so far, evaluate the progress, identify the challenges and
re-focus the implementation process of the Consultative Dialogue Framework with
a view to realizing a real people centred and market driven integration"
said Ms. Lilian Awinja, EABC CEO in her opening remarks during the forum.
Low level of implementation of
Secretary General Forum recommendations; failure for some dialogue parties to
mainstream Regional Dialogue Committee activities in their work plans;
inadequate funding to the Regional Dialogue Committee activities from the EAC
Secretariat and failure for Partner States to hold National Dialogue
Committee meetings except for the Republic of Kenya are among the issues
hindering the positive results and accomplishments of the EAC Secretary General
fora.
“Out of the previous 5 EAC
Secretary General fora that have been held, the level of implementation of the
agreed recommendations is still low as analysis indicate that only 16% of the
recommendations have been implemented and 43% partly implemented” said Ms.
Lilian Awinja, EABC CEO.
In 2007, EABC successfully
advocated for the establishment of the Consultative Dialogue Framework to
ensure a continuous dialogue between the Public sector and the non-state actors
sitting on a table to discuss the EAC integration process, bring out the
challenges and resolve them jointly. This was aimed to implement Article 127(4)
of the Treaty which states that “The Secretary General shall provide the forum
for consultations between the private sector, civil society organizations,
other interest groups and appropriate institutions of the Community” as well as
Article 129 (2) which provides for the Council of Ministers to “establish
modalities that would enable the business organizations or associations,
professional bodies and the civil society in the Partner States to contribute
effectively to the development of the Community.”
“EABC has successfully
spearheaded the implementing the Consultative Dialogue Framework through
holding the EAC Secretary General CEOs forum, where the Secretary General of
the East African Community meets with the EAC Private Sector on a regular
basis, listens and resolves their issues" said Ms. Lilian Awinja, EABC
CEO.
During the two-day forum, the
East African Business Council will discuss with Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko,
Secretary General of the EAC and agree on a clear path to the realization of
the objectives of the Consultative Dialogue Framework as envisaged under
article 127(4) of the EAC Treaty.
-END-
Note to Editors
Consultative Dialogue Framework
The Consultative Dialogue
Framework Forum for Private Sector, Civil Society and other interest groups in
the EAC integration process was endorsed by the EAC Council of Ministers at its
26th meeting in November 2012 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The Consultative Dialogue
Framework is guided by the principles of cooperation for mutual benefit, trust,
goodwill, active and constructive participation, inclusivity and respect for
diverse views, among others.
About East
African Business Council
The East
African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex body of Private Sector
associations and Corporates from the 6 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. Being the representative of Private Sector associations in the
region, EABC was granted observer status in organs and activities of the East
African Community (EAC). EABC therefore participates in various sectoral
meetings, meetings of the Coordination Committee, the EAC Council of Ministers,
and the Summit of the EAC Heads of State; with a view to ensure, that the
agenda of the Private Sector is well articulated and received by the policy
makers.
Vision: Borderless East Africa for business and investment.
Mission: To promote sustainable Private Sector-driven growth.
EABC Membership is drawn from
the six East African Partner States and is open to all national and regional
associations as well as Corporates with interest in the EAC Integration process
or operations in the region. 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 (CFCIB), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), Rwanda Private Sector
Federation (PSF), Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) and Private Sector
Foundation Uganda (PSFU).
For more information about
EABC, visit www.eabc.info.
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