EAC Deputy Secretary General challenges business community
The Deputy Secretary General of the East African Community in charge of planning and infrastructure, Dr. Enos Bukuku has challenged the business community in the region to take a more pro-active role in EAC integration.
Speaking at a retreat for board members and staff of East African Business Council (EABC) in Arusha, Tanzania, Dr. Bukuku said: “Apart from challenging the bureaucratic nature of government business, the private sector should complement inter-governmental efforts, through East African Business Council as a pro-active watchdog”. He added: “The private sector should come with bigger force to partner with EAC Secretariat and the Community’s organs and institutions in all its areas of cooperation among partner states.”
In a recent meeting with the Executive Director of East African Business Council, Ms. Agatha Nderitu, the EAC Secretary General, Dr. Richard Sezibera, requested the business community to submit regular reports on their experiences in EAC integration.
The EABC board comprising representatives from the five EAC Partner States highlighted some of the challenges facing the business community which, among others, include infrastructure bottlenecks, Non-tariff barriers, lack of harmonized tax regimes, and a lack of structured mechanism for public-private dialogue.
Dr. Bukuku commended EABC for initiating the process to develop a structured mechanism for public-private dialogue. “I see this to be an integrated and focused approach which should accelerate the participation and involvement of the private sector in integration agenda.” He also challenged the business community to allocate adequate resources to EABC to strengthen its capacity to play its full role as the voice of the private sector in East Africa.
Dr. Bukuku also noted that the EAC Private Sector development strategy recognizes that the region should be driven by domestic and cross border investments particularly in Small and Medium sized Enterprises while foreign direct investment should play a catalytic role.
This article was originally posted on East Africa Business Communities
Are you interested in Market Research, Recruitment and Business Leads?
Join the Africa Business Panel, powered by Africa Business Communities.
www.africabusinesspanel.com