SPEECH BY THE INCOMING CHAIRMAN DURING THE 19TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
IN NAIROBI, KENYA ON THE 29TH OF JUNE, 2018 AT THE HILTON HOTEL
Outgoing Chairman,
Members of the EABC Executive Committee,
Distinguished Members of the East African Business Council,
Media friends,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I take this opportunity to first
of all thank the entire membership of the East African Business Council for
electing me to be Chair for the next coming one year.
Allow me to thank my predecessor
and his Executive Committee for the initiatives they have put in place in
ensuring that the agenda of the EAC business community is at the forefront of
their leadership and for steering EABC to where it’s today.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
On this 29th day of the month of
June 2018 it is therefore my honor to accept the role of the East African
Business Council Chairman and I promise to do what it takes in delivering the
EABC mandate in the next one year.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have been participating in EABC
activities as an Executive Committee Member and I know a lot has been achieved
as EABC continues to be recognized in all spheres of the EAC integration
process as the apex body of the private sector.
Allow me recognize and appreciate
the efforts of my predecessor, Mr. Jim Kabeho, the Executive Committee Members
and the Secretariat team. I wish to thank them for a job well done and the
progress made so far and I welcome the new Executive Committee members to the
role of building
EABC, making it more visible and
accomplishing the tasks that lie ahead of us especially effective
representation of the private sector in key regional matters that affect their
operations and well being.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
As you might have realized, intra
EAC Trade has been declining over the years (2014 to 2016) as it registered a
decline of 10.1% between 2013 and 2014 and a further decline of 14.6% between
2015 and 2016 according to the EAC Trade and Investment reports (2015, 2016)
and this was mainly attributed to restrictions on export of certain products to
Partner States as well as persistent Non Tariff Barriers.
This is not a good signal for
regional business and my tasks among others will be aimed at addressing the
bottlenecks to intra EAC and ensure there is seamless flow of goods and
services within the community.
Ladies and Gentleman,
On the 21st of March 2018 in the
beautiful city of Kigali, Rwanda, a key milestone in our integration efforts as
a Continent was achieved through the signing of the African Continental Free
Trade Area. Close to Fifty (50) African Union Member States signed the African Continental
Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Kigali Declaration and the Free Movement Protocol
by order of interest, during the official opening ceremony of the 10th
Extraordinary Summit of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government.
The AfCFTA aims at increasing
cross border trade and investment thus enhancing market access for goods and
services produced in Africa. This is a huge market for us as EAC private sector
to tap into and during my tenure I will task the secretariat to closely follow
the developments at the Continental level through participating in AfCFTA
activities and ensuring that the EAC private sector is represented and takes
advantage of the opportunities that come with it.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
In addition to the above key
areas as highlighted, my term in office will focus on implementing the EABC
strategy 2022 coupled with Extensive advocacy on issues outlined in our EABC
Policy Advocacy Agenda 2018/2019, a document that aims at addressing key
sectoral and cross cutting trading policy challenges as well as highlighting
gaps and discrepancies in the implementation of the East African Community Customs
Union and Common Market Protocols which are hindering EAC Private Sector from
enjoying advantages presented by East African Community Integration and the
wider EAC Common Market.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
To this end, together with the
incoming Executive Committee team, I will endeavor to work on the following:-
1. Business Environment: We will
continue to advocate for the following issues: Advocate for policy and
legislation that that promote growth and sustainability of the private sector,
working with the public sector to identify opportunities for public private
partnerships in key infrastructure development.
2. Membership Development: EABC’s
membership will be further expanded with the support of National Focal Points
in each of the 6 EAC Partner States, through value added services and business related
networking events & trainings. South Sudan Private Sector will also soon be
joining our membership.
3. Development of Strategic
Networks: We will seek to; leverage the expertise at EABC and its broader
network towards harnessing the private sector to spread economic development
and prosperity,expand space for inclusive engagements in public private
dialogues
4. Community engagements: We will
increase understanding the role and benefits of the private sector in the EAC
amongst youth, women and other marginalized groups. Our engagement with our
media partners will be paramount in enhancing visibility and the creation of awareness
on private sector issues in the EAC region.
5. Resource Mobilization: We will
ensure sustainability and high impact through increased and diversified streams
of incomes.
In conclusion,
I call upon members of East
African Business Council, the EAC Secretariat and Development Partners to work
hand in hand with us in fulfilling EABC Mandate.
I thank you all.
ASANTE SANA
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