PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
EABC AND TMEA
DEEPEN TIES TO BOOST DIALOGUE FOR TRADE AND INVESTMENTS IN THE EAC
·
EABC in collaboration
with TMEA to champion reforms to improve the business and invest climate in the
EAC
Arusha, Tanzania: April 15, 2019: The East African Business Council (EABC) in collaboration
with TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) have launched the regional programme on Public-Private Sector
Dialogue (PPD) for Trade and Investment from 2019 to 2023.
Speaking at the official kick-off ceremony at EABC Secretariat
Hon. Peter Mathuki said “ The project aims to enhance advocacy and dialogue on
transport and logistics, trade facilitation, customs & tax, standards, and
NTBs at regional and country level. In addition, the programme extends beyond
the EAC and incorporates the COMESA, COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area
(TFTA) and Africa Continental Free Trade
Area (AfCFTA).”
“The EABC is keen to enhance
dialogue and partnership between the private and public sector, hence EABC will
spearhead the programme in close collaboration with the all national and
regional sectoral private sector associations in the EAC,” said Hon. Peter
Mathuki, EABC CEO.
For businesses in the region to grow and expand
within and beyond the EA, there is a
need for technical and financial support to EABC in a bid to advocate and input
substantive issues affecting the business community in regard to policy formulation
and implementation in the region.
“Public-Private Dialogue can
facilitate the trade & investment climate reforms by promoting better
diagnosis of investment climate problems, transparency and inclusive design of
policy reforms making policies easier to implement. TMEA launched this new
partnership with EABC to galvanize and facilitate trade and investments in the
EAC,” said Mr. Allan Ngugi, Ag. Director Private Sector Advocacy TMEA.
This partnership comes at an opportune time when the EAC integration
process is marking 20 years in November 2019 since the signing of the Treaty, it is
important that the private sector and government dialogue and ensure that protocols
and policies work on the ground for EAC businesses. In addition, Article 7 of
the Treaty for the Establishment of the EAC states on people-centered and
market-driven cooperation as a principle to govern practical achievements of
the objectives of the EAC integration process. Further Article 128 emphasizes
on strengthening of the private sector as a key partner in the EAC integration.
“Barriers to trading
across borders such as multiple product standard inspections, bureaucratic
trade procedures delays business transactions and increase the cost of doing
business. EABC will evaluate and monitor EAC policies to ensure they work for
businesses at the ground level and create
momentum for accelerating the policy reforms related to business and investment
climate in the EAC ” said Hon. Peter Mathuki.
The programme seeks to contribute to the reduction of transport (road, rail,
and air) cost and time along transport corridors by 10% and increase the efficiency
of logistic services. Furthermore, it will increase the export capacity of East African
businesses and enhance
customs and other trade-related agencies efficiency by reducing time to process
trade documentation.
“It will enhance dialogue on customs matters such as tariffs,
taxes, levies, Common External Tariffs, and import/export tax incentives. It
will also look at Harmonization of East African Standards, counterfeit and
sub-standard issues as well as Non-Tariff Barriers,” said Hon. Mathuki, EABC
CEO.
“The operationalization of the Single Customs Territory has
contributed to the reduction of delays in cargo clearance in the Northern
Corridor, the turnaround time of goods transiting from Mombasa to Kampala has
been reduced from 18 days to 4, and goods from Mombasa to Kigali, from 21 days
to 6.2, “ said Hon. Mathuki, EABC CEO.
According to the World Trade Organization to the Central
Corridor turnaround time between the port of Dar es Salaam and Kigali (or
Bujumbura) has been reduced from over 20 days to 6.
According to the WorldBank Ease of Doing Business report (2018),
EAC is ranked at 149 out of 190 in the ease of trading across borders. In the region, the time it takes to export is
at an average of 76.hrs which is too high compared to 12.5 hours in OECD High-Income Economies. The
cost to export outside the region is at an average of USD427.8 compared to
139.1 in OECD High-Income economies. The export documentary compliance in the
region takes 80.2hours and cost USD 170.2 while in OECD High-Income economies
is at 2.4hrs and USD35.2 respectively.
TMEA will continue to play a critical role in facilitating ease
of doing business in the region and the continent.
About EABC
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 policymakers.
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 the 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).
About TradeMark East Africa
TradeMark East Africa (TMEA) is funded by a range of development
agencies with the aim of growing prosperity in East Africa through trade. We
believe that enhanced trade contributes to economic growth, a reduction in
poverty and subsequently increased prosperity. Visit: https://www.trademarkea.com/#
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