SPEECH BY HON. PETER MATHUKI EABC CEO DURING REGIONAL TRAINING –OF-TRAINERS (TOT) TFA TRAINING FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR

EAST AFRICAN BUSINESS COUNCIL

WELCOMING REMARKS BY HON. PETER MATHUKI EABC CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER

DURING

REGIONAL TRAINING –OF-TRAINERS (TOT) TFA TRAINING FOR THE PRIVATE SECTOR

 

 

VENUE: EABC OFFICE, MAFAO HOUSE

DATE: 08-12 APRIL 2019

Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko; Secretary-General, East African Community

Ms. Victoria  Tuomisto and Ms. Eleonara Representatives of ITC and Facilitators of the Training Workshop

Masters Trainers from the EAC Partner States,

Ladies and gentlemen, 

Allow me to welcome you all to this very important Training for Masters of Trainers on Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in East Africa. This training is yet another effort by East African Business Council (EABC) in collaboration with International Trade Centre (ITC) to enhance the capacity of the Private Sector and Trade Supporting Institutions (TSIs) in the EAC region on the opportunities and challenges presented by Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA). It is undisputable fact that the TFA is increasingly becoming an important tool for countries to improve their business environment by initiating various trade facilitation reforms.

I am told the main objective of the training course is to equip the Master Trainers from the EAC Partner States Trade Facilitation Institutions and EABC National Focal Points with technical and pedagogical tools necessary to provide national trainings for the private sector in the respective Partner States. At the end of five-day training, all trainers will be able to:

·       First, deliver ITC’ training module on TFA for the private sector on their own

·       Second, facilitate  discussions with participants and guide them through exercises and case studies

·       Third and finally, understand key teaching techniques to ensure effective transfer of knowledge to participants.

As we all agree that the EAC Integration process is People-centered and Market-driven, It is therefore very key for the private sector to be involved and take part in the implementation and initiation of  Trade Facilitation reforms. This training on TFA will not only keep us at breast with the Agreement but also enhance our capacity to advocate effectively for business-friendly trade facilitation reforms in our region. This, in turn, will benefit the private sector through easing the cost, time and process of doing business in the region.

Ladies and Gentlemen

I would like, on behalf of the East African Business Council and on my own behalf, to warmly thank you all for accepting our invitation and decide to leave your busy schedule and participate in this training. It gives me more confidence as I realize that the participants of this training are from both public and private sector across the 5-EAC Partner States as well as EAC officials. The composition of the trainees demonstrates the need for the stronger partnership between the public and the private sector in implementing EAC decisions and especially Trade Facilitation reforms.  

Ladies and Gentlemen

We from the private sector recognize and appreciate the role played by our governments of the 5 EAC Partner States in notifying and ratifications of WTO TFA.  While 5 of the EAC Partner States have notified its only Kenya, Rwanda and Uganda have ratified the Agreement. Tanzania and Burundi are in the process of ratifying the Agreement.  However, it’s good to hear that already all five Partner States have started implementing some articles of the Agreement. A good example is the launch of Trade Information Portals in Rwanda and Kenya.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I am confident that you will find this training useful and will enhance the capacity of the private sector to play a more critical role in the consultative process of advising authorities on how the Agreement is best applied in the national environment.

Based on this background, I would like to sincerely thank Internal Trade Centre (ITC) for choosing to collaborate with EABC and our National Focal Points to deliver both Regional Training as well as National TFA Private Sector trainings in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda under framework of EAC-EU Market Access Programme (MARK-UP).

In the same weight, I would like also to thank EAC Secretariat for the continued support and collaboration with EABC on the regional integration process.

I wish you all a fruitful discussion and learning. 

 

Thank you!

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