EABC chair asks governments to act on slow economy

Tax collectors at Malaba border post. According to World Bank, the economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is rebounding in 2017. FILE PHOTO

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The new EABC chair wants partner states to share their challenges so that solutions can be sought, Dorothy Nakaweesi writes.

Regional private sector players have challenged their leaders to task regional governments to improve the conditions of doing business.
Currently, the region’s private sector is facing many hardships in doing business because of the harsh economic conditions which have seen many lay off jobs and others nearly close business.
Speaking at the 16th Annual General Meeting of the East African Business Council (EABC) held in Kampala on Friday last week, Mr Moses Ogwal, the policy and advocacy manager at the Private Sector Foundation Uganda, said: “We want to see EABC walk the talk by engaging governments to address the issues causing the slowdown in the economies.”
Augmenting Mr Ogwal’s plea, the communication and corporate affairs Director Nile Breweries, Mr Onapito Ekomoloit, said part of the problem is the slow-down in the economy.

“EABC is a group of businesses who have to make money and if they feel they are not making enough money, their umbrella institution must be seen feeling their pain and asking government what they should do,” Mr Ekomoloit noted.
Mr Kassim Omar, the new council chair, said with the global challenges, there is more focus on sovereignty rather than regionalism as far as the different partner states are concerned.
“This is why we continue to experience the never-ending challenges of non-tariff barriers coming up,” he added.
He, however, said as he takes on the mantle for the next one-year he, would like to see the partners sharing those challenges so that council follows them up with the governments.

Economic growth
According to the World Bank’s new Africa’s Pulse report published in April, the economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa is rebounding in 2017 after registering the worst decline in more than two decades in 2016.
The bi-annual analysis on the state of African economies showed that the region is showing signs of recovery and regional growth is projected to reach 2.6 per cent in 2017.
“However, the recovery remains weak, with growth expected to rise only slightly above population growth, a pace that hampers efforts to boost employment and reduce poverty,” the report noted.
In his speech, Mr Omar pledged to push the private sector agenda towards creating a conducive business environment by engaging with the governments to reduce the cost of doing business in the region.

“We will continue to engage with members through consistent and purposeful communication and dialogue in all EAC partner states and scale up our communication of achievements to ensure the Members are fully informed of EABC work,” Mr Omar pledged.
From Uganda, Mr Omar will represent the council with Mr Jim Kabeho (Madhavani Group), Mr Stuart Mwesigwa (Roofings Group) and Ms Barbra Mulwana (Nice House of Plastics) also the new chairperson of Uganda Manufacturers association.