EAC, EABC strengthen trade partnership
ARUSHA: THE East African Community (EAC) Secretariat and the East African Business Council (EABC) have stepped up efforts to accelerate regional integration by strengthening collaboration on trade facilitation, investment promotion and private sector participation across the bloc.
The renewed commitment was reached during a meeting between EAC Secretary General Mr Stephen Mbundi and EABC Executive Director Ahmed Farah in Arusha on Monday, amid efforts to unlock trade and investment opportunities under the regional integration agenda.
The discussions centred on removing barriers to intra-regional trade, improving the movement of goods, services and capital, and strengthening policy dialogue between governments and the private sector.
Mr Farah said the EABC is implementing institutional reforms to reinforce its role as the region’s private sector advocacy body, with trade facilitation, investment promotion and policy engagement among its key priorities.
He said stronger collaboration with the EAC Secretariat would help create a more predictable business environment and accelerate reforms needed to improve the competitiveness of East African enterprises.
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The meeting also reviewed preparations for the East Africa CEO & Investment Forum, scheduled for September 17–18 in Nairobi, alongside a series of CEO Roundtables to be held across EAC partner states.
The events are expected to bring together policymakers, investors and business leaders to identify investment opportunities, address regulatory bottlenecks and strengthen public-private dialogue on regional economic integration.
Mr Mbundi said the private sector remains central to the success of the EAC integration agenda, noting that closer engagement with businesses is essential to ensure regional policies respond to commercial realities and attract greater investment.
