ARUSHA Regional Commissioner John Mongella offered the East African Business Council (EABC) land to construct its permanent headquarters.
Without disclosing the actual location, Mr Mongella said the decision demonstrated Tanzania’s deep commitment, particularly that of President Samia Suluhu Hassan to boost investments and business growth within the East African Community (EAC).
“This is in recognition of your mandate of steering growth of intra-trade, investments, jobs and economic buoyancy in the region,” explained Mr Mongella on the sidelines of a high-level business dinner and the launch of EAC Trade Barometer held here midweek.
Currently, the EABC sits on the ninth floor of Mafao House along the city’s Old Moshi road.
Earlier on, the council’s Chairperson Angelina Ngalula called upon governments among the EAC Partner States to create a One Stop Centre for Women in Business to access customs and trade permits.
While acknowledging her new role at the EABC helm, the Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF) chairperson implored for the support from the Government and the business community to push forward the agenda of EABC.
“As the new EABC chair, I would wish to see the private sector thriving in a conducive business environment for the good of all East Africans,” she explained.
Ms Ngalula underscored the importance of the regional economic bloc to boost its transactions under the regional and international trade agreements and opportunities of African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) and the Economic partnership agreement (EPA).
She was however quick to point out that despite the agreements and opportunities East Africans were yet to fully utilize them as trade was still fractional due to low productive capacity, fragmentation and infrastructure challenges.
“With the AfCFTA, there are no boundaries of doing business in Africa, but the EAC bloc should be well-prepared to export competitive professional services and skills to the continent,” she added.
