EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY
 
STATEMENT BY MR JEANE CLAUDE NSENGIYUMVA, EAC DEPUTY SECRETARY GENERAL (PRODUCTIVE AND SOCIAL SECTORS) DURING THE LAUNCH OF THE EAST AFRICAN BUSINESS DIRECTORY
 
Nairobi Safari Club, Nairobi, Kenya, 26 November 2009
 
Hon. Amason Jeffa Kingi, Minister for East African Community
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of the East African Community, Mr. David Nalo,
The Vice Chairman of the East African Business Council, Mr. Keli Kiilu
The Executive Director, East African Business Council, Mr. Charles Mbogori,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen.
 
On behalf of the East African Community Secretariat, I am very pleased to be associated with this important occasion of launching the East African Business Directory, 2009/2010 Edition.
 
Let me at the outset convey warm greetings to you from the Secretary General of the East African Community, Ambassador Juma Mwapachu, and inform you of his great appreciation for this yet another initiative of the East African Business Council in support of regional integration and development.
The launching of the East African Business Directory is indeed timely coming hot on the heels of the signing last Friday by the Heads of State of the Protocol on the Establishment of the East African Community Common Market.  It shows the readiness with which our region’s business community have anticipated the onset of the Common Market.
 
The EAC Common Market Protocol is an elaborate document that will govern, but more importantly, promote intra-regional trade as well as social, cultural and other interactions of our people within a large and vibrant single East African market.
 
Apart from its provisions for free  movement of trade and  factors of production, the Protocol provides for cooperation in critical areas of regional development, including co-operation in regional infrastructure , science and technology, industrial development; and agriculture and food security.
 
The Protocol therefore raises important interventions which must be led and involve critical inputs of the private sector. Taking the cue from the EAC Treaty, the private sector should occupy the position of strategic leadership of our region’s grand march to the ranks of the fast modernizing regions of the world.
 
The aim of economic integration being to tap opportunities of economies of scale arising from a larger market and investment area in order to accelerate growth, it is important that the manufacturing and trading enterprises of our region – both large and small scale – should increasingly collaborate among themselves in the context of the Common Market and the solid regional economic bloc that we are pursuing.
 
The private sector needs to coalesce into a confident force and centre of dynamic engagement and interface with Government in building a strong East African economy with a solid industrial and manufacturing base, and a strong production and marketing enterprise that will raise the competitiveness of our region and raise the living standards of the people.  
 
More or less like a World Cup team, all our development players need to co-ordinate their act, marshal strategies and  resources, investing in the people, investing in economic infrastructure, investing in exchange of information and investing in marketing services thus strengthen performance and maximize scores  in the highly competitive global markets. 
 
It is gratifying to note that the signing of the Protocol has come at a time when a very positive mood and team spirit exists in the region for deepening integration. Indeed, the just concluded celebrations of the 10th Anniversary of the East African Community have further energized the spirit of East African unity and development under the banner of One People, One Destiny that has been well embraced in the region.
 
It is therefore very fitting that East African Business Council, has launched the Business Directory at this opportune moment when we move into the higher stage of integration.  The Directory will provide useful reference and exchange of information for an effective collaborative effort in promoting investments and marketing our region. I am particularly pleased  to note that the East African Business Directory will be committed to providing linking information with  counterparts  across the borders thus promote  cross-border  investments, trade and exchanges.
 
In concluding my remarks, I wish once again to thank the EABC for this excellent idea and wish the East African Business Directory and the business community as a whole great success.
 
 ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com