East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 17 May 2017:
The EAC Secretariat, East African Business Council, the Government of Rwanda and other Partner States are finalizing preparations for the 2nd East African Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition (EAMBS) to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 23rd to 25th May, 2017.
Over 300 top executives in the manufacturing and agri-business sectors, high-ranking policy and decision makers, as well as leading financial institutions from Africa and beyond have already confirmed their participation.
H.E. Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, has been invited to grace the official opening ceremony of the Summit.
Other high level dignitaries expected to attend include: Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, Secretary General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko, the EAC Secretary General; as well as line Ministers from all EAC Partner States, who shall engage the private sector on critical steps needed to leverage higher levels of investment in manufacturing.
Dr. Reginald Mengi, the Executive Chairman of the IPP Media Group Tanzania (Ltd), Mr. Ali Mufuruki, Chairman & CEO, Infotech Investment Group LTD, Ms. Phyllis Wakiaga, CEO, Kenya Association of Manufacturers are among the private sector heavyweights who have confirmed their participation in the Summit.
Speaking ahead of the Summit, the EAC Deputy Secretary General, in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, said the EAMBS offers an important platform for governments in the region to engage the private sector on critical steps needed to leverage higher levels of investment in manufacturing.
“The private sector, on its part, is expected to use the Summit to advocate for the acceleration of industrial reforms aimed at improving the investment climate in the EAC strategic sectors,” added Hon Bazivamo.
Hon. Bazivamo said that the EAC region has already identified strategic areas for industrial development in the region that bear comparative advantages and where significant private sector investment is needed to unlock potentials.
Hon Bazivamo disclosed that the EAMBS would put a special emphasis on the role of diaspora investors and will come up with special provisions on how they can be attracted to invest in the region.
The 2nd EAMBS will among other comprise the following sessions:
Manufacturing in the EAC Region, Public and Private Sector perspective;
The EAC Treaty and its’ protocols, objectives vis-à-vis reality;
Long-Term and Innovative Financing for the Manufacturing Sector & the Participation of the Diaspora;
The Role of EAC Governments in Promoting Local Content with a focus on Iron, Steel, Mining and Construction Materials;
High level dialogue on the Manufacturing—Trade nexus in the EAC;
Improved Competitiveness through skills and innovation;
Partners Roundtable /Financing to support Industrialization; and
Pharmaceuticals and Cosmetics: “Growing EAC’s nascent pharmaceutical industry.
The EAMBS is being organized by the EAC Secretariat in collaboration with the East African Business Council, the host Government of Rwanda and other EAC Partner States with the support of Development Partners.
Registration
For further Information or Registration Attendance, Exhibition or Sponsorship please contact:
Mrs. Angelika Farhan-Reimpell, Business Development Manager, East Africa Business Council (EABC) afarhan[at]eabc-online.com and manufacturingsummit[at]eabc-online.com)
OR
Ms. Jennifer Gache, Senior Industrial Engineer, EAC Secretariat gache[at]eachq.org
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Secretariat; Kigali, Rwanda; 01 April 2017: Preparations are in high gear for the 2nd East African Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition (EAMBS) to be held in Kigali, Rwanda from 23rd to 25th May 2017.
The EAMBS Conference and Exhibition is being organized against a backdrop of economic resurgence and high political commitment to pursue development driven by industrialization. The forum therefore stands to offer an important platform for governments in the region to engage the private sector on critical steps needed to leverage higher levels of investment in manufacturing.
Speaking during a press conference after the conclusion of the Regional Steering Committee's meeting for the preparations of 2nd East African Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition in Kigali, Minister of Trade, Industry and East Africa Community Affairs in Rwanda, Hon. Francois Kanimba said that the conference seeks to create an avenue for the private sector to advocate and campaign for the acceleration of industrial reforms aimed at improvement of investment conditions in the EAC strategic sectors.
Accompanied by Hon. Christophe Bazivamo, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Kanimba informed the press that the EAC region has already identified strategic areas for industrial development in the region that bear comparative advantages and where significant private sector investment is needed to unlock the potential. These strategic sectors include: agro- processing and agri-business; mineral processing; pharmaceuticals; construction materials; fertilizers & agro-chemicals as well as the strengthened leather & textiles and automotive sector, stated Hon. Kanimba.
The Hon. Minister noted that the EAMBS and Exhibition is expected to create a greater awareness about the opportunities and challenges arising from the Common Market Protocol for the regional manufacturing sector.
The Minister disclosed to the press that some of the key-issues to be addressed at the 2nd East African Manufacturing Business Summit (EAMBS) include;
How can the region market itself best? Where are the major investment opportunities (IPAs)?
What are currently the biggest challenges for regional manufacturers and how should they be addressed?
What are the success factors for manufacturers in the EAC?
How to gain competitiveness in price and quality?
How to deal with environmental concerns?
What do governments do in order to push local manufacturers (e.g. local content at procurement of public entities)?
What can be done against counterfeits, illicit trade and IP violations?
Can the development of a regional identity (proud to "Buy East African Build East Africa") help to promote and strengthen the internal market? How (and by whom) should that be done?
How important is customer service (thus customer satisfaction?) and customer awareness?
How to develop qualified labor force (industrial skills)?
What sectors are most affected by EAC regulations (positive and negative)?
Is there a specific need for action that can be addressed during the conference?
What role can the East African Diaspora play? Which supportive financing schemes are in place (Diaspora Banking)?
On his part, the EAC Deputy Secretary General in charge of Productive and Social Sectors, Hon. Christophe Bazivamo told the press that the Steering Committee Meeting appreciated results from the 2015 event and is building on them to prepare for the next event. “As regards recommendations from the first Business Summit, we developed action plans and policies which are helping the manufacturing sector in our region,” added Hon. Bazivamo.
The EAMBS conference will include an exhibition where investors, enterprises, researchers and academia collectively showcase new products and services as well as exhibit the latest advances in manufacturing technology and innovation, particularly those with relevance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
The 2nd EAMBS is expected to create greater awareness about the opportunities and challenges arising from the Common Market Protocol for the regional manufacturing sector. It is supposed to serve as a platform not only for initial business contacts, but also for exchange of ideas on how to address the existing challenges in the regional integration process.
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Notes to Editor:
The 2nd high-level Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition is the follow up of the 1st Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition which took place at the Speke Resort Hotel, Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda in 2015.
The biannual East African Manufacturing and Business Summit is being organized against a backdrop of economic resurgence and high political commitment to pursue development driven by industrialization. The forum therefore stands to offer an important platform for governments in the region to engage the private sector on critical steps needed to leverage higher levels of investment in manufacturing.
The expected outcome is significant impact on broader socio economic development objectives such as employment creation, technology transfer and wealth creation. The forum seeks to create an avenue for the private sector to advocate and campaign for the acceleration of industrial reforms aimed at improvement of investment conditions in the EAC strategic sectors.
The EAC region has already identified strategic areas for industrial development in the region that bear comparative advantages and where significant private sector investment is needed to unlock potentials. These strategic sectors include: agro-processing and agri-business; mineral processing; pharmaceuticals; construction materials; fertilizers & agro-chemicals as well as the strengthened leather & textiles and automotive sector.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 22 February 2017:
The 2nd high-level East African Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition (EAMBS) organized by the East African Community (EAC) is scheduled to take place 23rd - 25th May, 2017 in Kigali, Rwanda.
The three-day conference themed "Harnessing the Manufacturing Potential for Sustainable Economic Growth" will bring together top executives in the manufacturing and agri-business sectors, policy and decision makers, as well as key financial institutions from Africa and beyond to dialogue and explore opportunities for investment in manufacturing and agri-business in the EAC region.
The EAMBS will include an exhibition where investors, enterprises, researchers and academia will collectively showcase new products and services as well as exhibit the latest advances in manufacturing technology and innovation, particularly those with relevance to small and medium enterprises (SMEs)
The official opening of the Summit is expected to be presided over by the President of the Republic Rwanda, H.E Paul Kagame
Speaking ahead of the Manufacturing Summit, the Director of Productive Sectors at the EAC Secretariat, Mr. Jean Baptiste Havugimana, said the Summit which is co-organized by the EAC Secretariat, the East African Business Council (EABC) and Government of Rwanda, will provide a strategic platform for an extensive and intensive dialogue on opportunities and challenges of industrialisation in the region.
Mr. Havugimana noted that Summit is a platform borne out of the recognition that sustainable economic growth and development in East Africa is unattainable without creating a vibrant and diversified manufacturing sector.
”The Manufacturing Business Summit marks an important turning point for the future of manufacturing in the region," he added.
The 2nd EAMBS is expected to create greater awareness about the opportunities and challenges arising from the Common Market Protocol for the regional manufacturing sector. It is supposed to serve as a platform not only for initial business contacts, but also for exchange of ideas on how to address the existing challenges in the regional integration process.
- ENDS -
Notes to Editor:
The 2nd high-level Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition is the follow up of the 1st Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition which took place at the Speke Resort Hotel, Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda in 2015.
The biannual East African Manufacturing and Business Summit is being organized against a backdrop of economic resurgence and high political commitment to pursue development driven by industrialization. The forum therefore stands to offer an important platform for governments in the region to engage the private sector on critical steps needed to leverage higher levels of investment in manufacturing.
The expected outcome is significant impact on broader socio economic development objectives such as employment creation, technology transfer and wealth creation. The forum seeks to create an avenue for the private sector to advocate and campaign for the acceleration of industrial reforms aimed at improvement of investment conditions in the EAC strategic sectors.
The EAC region has already identified strategic areas for industrial development in the region that bear comparative advantages and where significant private sector investment is needed to unlock potentials. These strategic sectors include: agro-processing and agri-business; mineral processing; pharmaceuticals; construction materials; fertilizers & agro-chemicals as well as the strengthened leather & textiles and automotive sector.
For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department EAC Secretariat Arusha, Tanzania Tel: +255 784 835021 Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
