EABC elects new leaders
Members of the business community in East Africa have chosen Ms Consolata Ndayishimiye, the President of Federal Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Burundi Rwanda as the new Chairman of East African Business Council.
Ms Nadayishimiye was elected at EABC Annual General Meeting held on February 25th, 2011 in Bujumbura, Burundi. She succeeds Mr Faustin Mbundu who will still serve on the EABC Executive Committee as the immediate Past Chairman.
Ms Ndayishimiye will be assisted by Mr Gerald Ssendaula, Vice Chairman, Uganda, Ms Esther Mkwizu, Vice Chairperson, Tanzania, Mr Keli Kiilu, Vice Chairman, Kenya, and Mr Robert Bayigamba, Vice Chairman, Rwanda.
Other Members from Burundi include: Mr Antoine Ntisigana, Vice President of Burundi Freight Forwarders Association; Ms Bizimana, Managing Director of Intercargo and President of Burundi Freight Forwarders Association; Econie Nijembere, President of Association of Industries of Burundi.
Members from Rwanda include: Mr John Bosco Rusagara, President of Rwanda Association of Freight Forwarders; Mr Eric Mutaganda, Managing Director of MEREZ Petroleum; and Lamber Nyoni, Managing Director of MAGERWA
Members from Kenya include: Mr Patrick Obath, Chairman of Federation of Kenya Employers; Mr Jas Bebi, Chairman of Kenya Association of Manufacturers; Mr Vimal Shah, Director of Bidco East Africa Ltd.
Members from Uganda include: Ms Olive Kigongo, President of Uganda National Chamber of Commerce & Industry; Mr Francis Onapito, Corporate Affairs Director of Nile Breweries Limited; Mr Jim Kabeho, Director of Madhvani Group of Companies.
Members from Tanzania include: Ms Mwamvita Makamba, Head of Corporate Affairs at Vodacom Tanzania, Mr Harpreet Duggal, Head of Marketing and Strategy at Tanga Cement; Mr Felix Mosha, Chairman, Confederation of Tanzania Industries; and Ms Agatha Nderitu, the Executive Director of East African Business Council.
The new leadership takes office at a time when East Affrican Community is progressively implementing common market which came into force on July 1st, 2010 and has launched negatiations towards and East African single currency expected to be signed at the end of 2012.
In her acceptance speech, Ms Ndayishimiye, said: “I pledge that I will use my mandate to ensure that the business community East Africa fully realises the benefits of East African Community integration.”
“I know the task ahead is not an easy one but with your support and commitment, we shall ensure that the private sector takes full advantage of EAC integration,” she said. “We are also aware that the business community in East Africa is at different levels of development and integration and that we need a concerted effort to address some of the challenges that we face today,” Ms Ndayishimiye said.
“Strengthening and institutionalising the relationship between the Secretariat and National Focal points is key to ensuring that EABC becomes an effective change agent for fostering an enabling business environment for competitive, export-led, and sustainable economy,” She said.
The outgoing Chairman Mr Faustin Mundu, in his remarks, said as the integration process moves forward with the progreassive implementation of EAC Common Market and negotiations towards East African Common Currency, EABC has a greater role to play in ensuring that the interests of the private sector are well articulated in all policies affecting us and that the climate for doing business is conducive for attractive return on investments. “I wish the incoming team the very best in its challenging task to steer the EABC forward,” he said.
This article was originally posted on East Africa Business Communities
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