Business Reports by Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City

Ames-Lewis addressing journalists in Kampala last week

THE high business opportunities presented by the East African Community have excited the western world, especially the UK.

A British delegation from manufacturing and service sectors, under the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry, have concluded a tour of Uganda aimed at establishing new and strengthening existing trade links with the local dealers.

“The chamber brings together UK firms from the manufacturing and service sectors with products tailored for the regional market,” said the executive for world trade, Ruma Deb, during a press conference at the Sheraton Kampala Hotel.

He added that the delegation were interested in supplying waste water and water purification systems, laboratory equipment, new and used vehicles supplies, providing agricultural consultancy and supporting the oil and gas industry.

Meanwhile, the Nairobi-based British High Commission head of trade and investment, Orlando Ames-Lewis, has expressed concern about the western media’s negative reports on Africa, saying they were hindering business on the continent.

“We need to fight this negative publicity that portrays Africa as unconducive for investment. On the contrary, Africa is good for investment and trade,” he said.

Orlando added that more business people from UK were much willing to come and help East Africans in the area of value addition, a challenge hindering considerable revenue collections from the region’s exports.

The LCCI has annually been visiting East Africa for the last 25 years. It is the oldest chamber in UK and represents the business interests of nearly 4,000 small and large companies in the Midlands region.

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