Investment in Finance
The Partner States are harmonising their banking acts so as to harmonise and eventually integrate their financial systems.
Investment potential exists in establishing commercial banks as well as other services like brokerage, investment consultations, asset valuation & sales and bank assurance, asset management, real-estate financing, lease finance, agricultural finance and advisory services. The rapid growth of the informal sector offers opportunities in the provision of credit and related service. Demand for insurance services has also risen.
The opportunities in Partner States include the following:
Burundi
- Financial sector is insufficient for the economy. Investors are welcomed in all areas.
Kenya
- Investment in the SME loan market; and
- Building capacity in commercial banks to serve smaller enterprises.
Rwanda
- Establishment of more commercial & agricultural banks in rural areas;
- Competitive loan facilities to agricultural sector and investors in the industrial sector;
- Investment banking for advisory services and wholesale banking, including Trust funds and Pension funds;
- Promoting or arranging underwriting of issuance of securities;
- Housing bank sub-sector in mortgage financing to encourage collateralisation of loans and mobilisation of savings;
- Prospects for development of insurance given their complementary role in improving the population’s income levels, and the promotion of trade and industry; and
- Direct services like stock-broking, public offering of securities, etc.
United Republic of Tanzania
- The capital markets and securities; and
- Banking and the secondary market sector, which is still at an early stage of development with little activity.
Uganda
- Establishing commercial banks in upcountry urban and rural centres;
- Development banks required to provide term loans;
- Merchant banking for advisory services and wholesale banking as well as underwriting of securities;
- Mortgage financing to encourage collateralisation of loans and mobilisation of savings;
- Brokerage, sales and tracking services firms with international experience and network;
- Establishing of investment banks & fund management;
- Discount houses for making a market for securities, thereby developing a secondary market for those securities;
- Provision of re-insurance services to encourage retention of premiums as well as building of capacity in the industry;
- Risk management, claims settling agents and provision of private pension funds;
- Reinsurers and reinsurance brokers; and
- Provision of life policies and other innovative assurances like agriculture and medical schemes
Capital Markets
In Article 85 of the EAC treaty, the Partner States agreed to implement a capital development programme and create an environment conducive to the easy movement of capital within the Community.
Capital Markets are regulated and supervised by state agencies. In Kenya, it is the Capital Markets Authority, in Tanzania the Capital Markets and Securities Authority and in Uganda the Capital Markets Authority. In addition to performing regulatory and supervisory functions, the authorities license brokers and investment advisers.
East African Securities Regulatory Authority helps member states develop capital markets institutions, facilitates exchange of information to help enforce laws and regulations in the different countries, besides conducting cross-border surveillance and public education awareness in addition to co-coordinating technical assistance and promoting consultancy within the region.