EABC MONTHLY E-NEWSLETTER

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1 East African Business Council gets new boss. The East African Business Council, received a new Executive Director, Mr. Andrew Luzze at cocktail and send off of the old Executive Director Ms. Agatha Nderitu, during an event which was attended by EABC Chairperson Hon Gerald Ssendaula, board members, EABC members, Dr. Julius Rotich DSG political federation EAC and representatives from partner states like Trade Mark East Africa, GIZ and other partners on 18 th September at the East African all suites Hotel in Arusha. Ms Agatha Nderitu has served EABC since 2008, She joined EABC as a Marketing and Communications Manager and later on rose to the position of Executive Director in 2010 after exhibiting outstanding and excellent work. Ms Nderitu has a broad intellectual background in international studies which include International Economic Policy Analysis; International Economics; International Economic Law and International Political Economy, complemented by over 13 years practical experience working with both the private and public sector, with a strong communications, marketing and sales. She thanked all the various parties she has worked with during her time of service as Executive Director of EABC and introduced the new Executive Director, Mr. Andrew Luzze. Mr. Andrew Luzze brings to EABC a wealth of technical and leadership experience acquired during his service as Policy Analyst at EABC working on EAC integration issues and the Tripartite process; as Policy Research and Advocacy Officer at Uganda Manufacturers Association ; and as a many other previous engagements he has been involved in. Inside this issue: EABC gets new Executive 1 & 2 Professional Services 3 Single Customs Territory 4&5 Upcoming events 5 From Left to Right is the Former Executive Director of EABC, Ms Agatha Nderitu; Hon Gerald Ssendaula Chairman of EABC and Mr. Andrew Luzze the new Executive Director of EABC. 1

2 EABC GETS NEW ED CONTINUATION Andrew Luzze holds a Master s Degree in Economic Policy and Planning and a Bachelor of Arts Degree (Hons) in Economics all from Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda. During his inauguration, Mr. Andrew Luzze, the new Executive Director outlined the key objectives that he and his team would be taking forward in line with the EABC five year strategic plan. Key amongst these will be continuing to strengthen the capacity of the secretariat, ensuring that EABC remains the driver of policy at regional level and within the tripartite process, working towards increasing EABC visibility and increasing value added services to members. He reiterated the need to widen EABC membership base to support the small and medium enterprises in order to make the voice of the private sector even in EAC even stronger. He looked forward to working closely with all EABC stakeholders including the EAC Partner States, EAC Secretariat, EAC Organs and Institutions, and relevant Ministries, departments, Civil Society Organizations, non-governmental organizations, educational institutions and organizations representing the youths in the region among others. Hon Gerald Ssendaula, Chairman of EABC welcoming the new Executive Director of EABC Mr. Andrew Kaggwa 2

3 EABC LAUNCHES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PLARTFORM TO FRONT PROFFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH IN THE REGION. East African Business Council (EABC) in partnership with Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA) launched the East African Professional Services Platform (EAPSP) on Wednesday 5th September 2012 at the Laico Regency Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The function was officiated by the Secretary General of the East Africa Community (EAC), Ambassador, Dr. Richard Sezibera and brought together over 60 participants. East African Platform for Professional services has been established as a forum for convening and representing the interests of the professional services sector at the regional level. The mission of the platform is to foster a single integrated and vibrant market for professional services in East Africa. During the launch, Ms. Agatha Nderitu, Executive Director, East African Business Council explains that the platform was born out of the recognition of the critical importance of developing professional services along with other services sectors, to harness development of the East African Economy. The Platform therefore aims to bring professional services issues to the forefront of policy agenda of the East African community. The mission of the platform is to foster a single integrated and vibrant market for professional services in East Africa. In reaching this goal, the Platform takes a two pronged approach which includes both policy level support as well as business level support. Facilitating capacity building and technical support for professional associations and their respective regulatory bodies, including, but not limited to the area of mutual recognition agreements by pooling together technical expertise; Creating networking opportunities for platform members to engage around common areas of focus and develop common policy positions that affect the professional services sector; Facilitating the preparation and advocacy of policy positions; Facilitating collaboration between platform members and relevant stakeholders; and Promoting business opportunities by facilitating intra-regional linkages/partnerships of professional services providers and developing support services for its members. The specific functions of the platform include; Gather and collating information on trade in professional services, including current regulations and regulatory barriers affecting trade in professional services, and in so doing, provide relevant, up to date information on policy issues to different stakeholders, including policy makers, regulatory bodies, professional associations and the wider business community; Members of the Services Sector during the Launch of the East African Professional Services Platform. 3

4 EABC LAUNCHES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PLARTFORM TO FRONT PROFFESSIONAL SERVICES WITH IN THE REGION. Premised on the launch a PPD was held by East African Business Council (EABC) supported by African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF), in collaboration with the International Trade Centre (ITC) and International Lawyers and Economists Against Poverty (ILEAP) from 13th to 14th September in Arusha. The main objective of the PPD was to raise awareness on the importance of services in the EAC integration process and the need to position services at the forefront of the EAC policy agenda, such that the development objectives of the Community can be translated into realizable benefits for the private sector. The PPD covered a number of topics including: Services integration and related negotiation processes in the EAC Opportunities and challenges of developing services sectors in the EAC Regulations, regulatory reforms and policy frameworks affecting services sectors The role of the public and private sectors Concept of an EAC coalition of services industries The meeting brought together 75 participants from private sector firms and associations active in the area of trade in services, EAC Partner State experts and officials, select researchers & practitioners on trade in services, representatives from development partners and other relevant stakeholders. Members of the Platform during the Public Private Dialogue. The PPD discerned from stakeholders where the existing commitments can be strengthened and/ or expanded, so as to generate real new business opportunities on the ground. It also engaged the relevant stakeholders in the EAC and defined policies and actions to facilitate service sector development in the integration process. Above are members of the East African Professional Services Platform after the PPD in Arusha. 4

5 Regional Private Sector Consultative Workshop on Attainment of a Single Customs Territory; from 10 th 11 th September 2012 The East African Business Council (EABC) in collaboration with Trade Mark East Africa (TMEA), organized a Regional Private Sector Consultative Workshop on Attainment of a Single Customs Territory; from 10 th 11 th September 2012, at East African Hotel, Arusha, Tanzania. The 24th Extra-Ordinary Meeting of the Council and 10th Extra-Ordinary Summit Meeting held in April 2012 adopted, in principle, the destination model of clearance of goods where assessment and collection of revenue is at the first point of entry and revenues are remitted to the destination Partner State. To this end, a High Level Task Force (HLTF) has been established with the mandate to propose the modalities and conditions of implementing the above principle. However a number of EABC Members and wider private sector have raised concerns on the modalities and potential impact of the single customs territory and involvement in the deliberations of the HLTF. The overarching objective of the Regional Consultative Workshop was to sensitize the business community and consolidate their views on the attainment of a single customs territory, with a view to providing input to the HLTF in its deliberation in order to ensure a private sector friendly implementation of the SCT. While the specific objectives were; Sensitize the regional private sector on the concept of a Single Customs Territory as envisaged under the principle the destination model of clearance of goods / assessment and collection of revenue at the first point of entry; Consolidate private sector views on the above with a view to presenting them during the HLTF meetings, regionally through the EABC and nationally through the national consultation mechanisms that may be instituted. A high level task force was formed on the single customs territory and is expected to submit a report to the 14th Heads of State Summit by November this year about one and half-month to come. During the meeting a report was presented by the EABC consultant working with Nairobi based Ameyogutoetole and Company Advocates, Mr. Dan Ameyo, He said while implementation of the Protocol and its annexes has been steady over the transitional period, a single customs Territory in a fully fledged customs union has not been attained due to lack of strong institutional and legal framework. Assess the requirements for the operationalisation of a Single Customs Territory as per that model; and, EABC Members during the Regional consultative forum. 5

6 Regional Private Sector Consultative Workshop on Attainment of a Single Customs Territory; from 10 th 11 th September 2012 EABC members during the Regional consultative workshop on attainment of a single Customs Territory. He says people of East Africa should start thinking as a region and not country since it is crucial to the attainment of a single customs territory, and is going to be crucial to the success or failure of the EAC Customs Union. He explained that Burundi is a member of CO- MESA, COMESA FTA, EAC, and ECCAS, Kenya is a member of COMESA, COMESA FTA, EAC and IGAD, Rwanda is a member of COMESA, COMESA FTA, EAC and ECCAS, Tanzania is a member of SADC, EAC while Uganda is a member of CO- MESA, EAC and IGAD. "Implications of this membership is that it is costly to organizations and members in terms of financial and human resources, it breeds conflicts in jurisdiction and policies and results into legal uncertainties where more than one agreement applies. Ameyo observed it is technically and legally impossible for a country to apply two different common external tariffs (CETs) and therefore be a member of two customs Unions. "Whenever one member of the Customs Union negotiates a trading arrangement with another country, the whole group must bear the costs of administering several trades within the same Customs Union," he said adding that members of the various groupings must maintain border posts to enforce rules of origin meant to prevent preferential trade from entering the countries that are not party to the agreement. He noted free circulation of goods in a single customs territory presupposes a revenue collection system that ensures reconciliation and accountability to enable goods to move from one place to the other. Others include cessation of rules of origin, minimal or removal of internal border controls, improved information technology interconnectivity and exchange of information between agencies involved in clearance of goods and collection of taxes. 6

7 Page 7 UPCOMING EVENTS 1 st 4 th October Meeting on Standards in Kampala. 3 rd 4 th October IFC meeting in Ngurudoto on cross boarder Common Market Implementation Score card. 4 th -11 th October Uganda International Trade Fair. 8 th October SG s Forum Kampala. 15 TH -17 TH October, M&E EAC development Strategy in Kigali,Rwanda. 22 nd -28 th October Sectoral Council Meeting of Ministers in charge of EAC affairs. 15 th 19 th October Single Customs High Level Task Force Meeting for the Single Customs Territory Kampala. FOR DETAILS CONTACT US AT: East African Business Council (EABC) Location: Plot No. 01, Olorien House Perfect Printers Street P. O. Box 2617 Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 (27) Fax: info@eabc-online.com Website: eabc.info 7

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