EAST AFRICAN PRIVATE SECTOR DELIBERATES ON EAC-CET REVIEW
· Finalization
of EAC CET Review will increase Intra- EAC Trade
· EABC-TMEA
Regional Private Sector Workshop on EAC-CET Review Kicks-Off
Arusha, Tanzania, 22nd August 2019:- The
EABC – TMEA Regional Private Sector Workshop on Comprehensive Review of the
EAC-Common External Tariff (CET) kicked off today in Nairobi, Kenya. The
regional workshop offers a platform for the private sector players to revive a
common industrialization vision for the region and address any inconsistencies identified in
the EAC CET that hinder intra-EAC trade and investments.
The 34th
Meeting of the EAC Council of Ministers held in 2016, directed the EAC
Secretariat to undertake a Comprehensive Review of the EAC CET and Rules of
Origin to align the tariff structure and rates in a bid to respond to the
global changes of trade and current economic environment in EAC.
In his remarks the Chief Guest Mr. Mwine Jim Kabeho, EABC
Vice-Chair said the new paradigm thinking is looking at Africa as a unit and
urged private sector to reflect this in the EAC CET review deliberations.
“The EAC should address inconsistencies of the Customs Union and
the Common Market to enhance industrial competitiveness, value chains, joint
ventures and partnerships,” said Mr. Mwine Jim Kabeho, EABC Vice Chair
In her remarks, Ms. Rachel Muthoga, Deputy CEO KEPSA urged for a
regional approach in coming up with the private sector recommendations on the
review of the CET in a bid to increase intra–regional trade.
Ms. Mary
Ngechu- Director, EABC Board Director
highlighted the importance to include interests of SMEs in the EAC CET review
process who are the backbone of the EAC economy.
Mr. Allan Ngugi, Director Private Sector
Advocacy TMEA emphasized on importance for the Private Sector to speak in
One Voice to the EAC Heads of State on issues of CET for the manufacturing
sector in the region to thrive. He reiterated TMEA’s commitment to partner with
the East African private sector for trade to flourish and jobs creation.
“The EAC-CET
review process is an opportunity to strengthen our trade policies towards
enhancing the competitiveness of the EAC regional bloc,” said
Hon. Peter Mathuki, EABC CEO.
The EAC CET review process has delayed, mainly due to divergent
positions by the EAC Partner States on the maximum CET rates and the threshold
to determine the availability of finished products in the EAC region.
“This workshop comes at an
opportune time when new developments such as the AfCFTA is in force. Hence the
East African private sector need to come up with
a harmonized recommendation on EAC CET review to support regional value chains,
agriculture and the Buy East African, Build East Africa campaign” said Hon.
Peter Mathuki, EABC CEO. He said the EAC CET review process needs to be
fast-tracked to improve intra-EAC trade, which is below 20% and lauded H.E Paul Kagame and H.E
Yoweri Kaguta Museveni for demonstrating and reiterating their commitment
to the EAC regional integration and improving the business environment
during the quadripartite summit.
“The need to fast-track the comprehensive review of the EAC CET
cannot be over-emphasized given the importance to EAC economies in terms of
creating tariff predictability and a level playing field for the producers in
the EAC,” said Hon Mathuki, CEO EABC.
The
EABC organizes this workshop at the backdrop of enhancing knowledge and
awareness of the private sector on the implications of EAC CET, Stays of
Applications, Duty Remission Regimes, Exemption Regimes and role in the review
and final implementation of agreed EAC CET.
The
workshop is expected to establish a clear collaboration framework among the
private sector and come up with consolidate options to expedite finalization of
review of EAC CET.
Notes:-
·
Remarks by Hon. Peter Mathuki, CEO /
Executive Director EABC
·
EABC Update on Comprehensive
EAC CET Review
About East African Business
Council (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. EABC was granted observer
status in organs and activities of the East African Community (EAC) and
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 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. 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 (Trade and
Markets) East Africa is an aid-for-trade organisation that was
established in 2010, with the aim of growing prosperity in East Africa through
increased trade. TMEA operates on a not-for-profit basis and is funded by the
development agencies of the following countries: Belgium, Canada, Denmark,
European Union, Finland, Ireland, Netherlands, Norway, United Kingdom and
United States of America. TMEA works closely with Regional Intergovernmental
Organisations, like the East Africa Community, national governments, the
private sector and civil society organisations.
The first phase of TMEA
(2010-2018) delivered exceptional results which contributed to substantial
gains in East Africa’s trade and regional integration in terms of reduced cargo
transit times, improved border efficiency, and reduced barriers to trade.
We are now in the second
phase (2018 - 2023) where we will focus on:
1. Reducing
barriers to trade; and
2. Improving business
competitiveness.
We believe this will
deliver large-scale impact in job creation, poverty reduction and enhanced
economic welfare.
TMEA has its headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya, with successful
operations and offices in EAC-Arusha, Burundi (Bujumbura), Tanzania (Dar es
Salaam), Democratic Republic of Congo (Bukavu), Ethiopia (Addis-Ababa), South
Sudan, Uganda (Kampala) and Rwanda (Kigali). To find out more, please visit our
website www.trademarkea.com.
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