Two blocs team up for industrial development
Mr Sikander Lalani, the owner of Roofings Group, points at a machine in the plant in Namanve. The plant has a capacity to produce 225,000 metric tonnes at full capacity per annum. EAC partner states have adopted some form of a vision which entails transforming of their economies into middle-income and industrialised status. PHOTO BY ABUBAKER LUBOWA
What you need to know:
Option. Focusing on industrial development is one of the options for poverty alleviation
Arusha.
The East African Community (EAC ) secretariat is collaborating with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (Unido) to address challenges affecting industrial policies in the region.
The two bodies launched a programme on strengthening institutional capacities for industrial policy management, monitoring and evaluation to enhance competitiveness among the bloc’s member states.
This is aimed at strengthening industrial capacities in EAC partner states by addressing challenges that have constrained effective industrial policy development, policy performance, monitoring and logic of policy hierarchies, at both national and regional level.
The programme is expected to enhance industrial competitiveness of the region through evidence–based design and effective implementation of industrial policies and programmes as well as an increased transparency of information on industrial market opportunities for the private sector.
Speaking during the launching ceremony, the permanent secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Trade Mr Uledi Mussa, noted that the launching of the programme was timely because all EAC partner states had adopted some form of a vision which entails the transformation of their economies into middle-income and industrialised status.
Mr Uledi noted that the region had limited choices and focusing on industrial development was the only optimal option for poverty alleviation and solving the rampant unemployment facing the youth in the region.
Regional policy
The EAC industrialisation policy approved by the EAC Summit in November 2011 to grow and expand the manufacturing and Small and Medium Enterprise (SME) business so as to create employment and income for the region.
The manufacturing and SME businesses in the region are anticipated to register substantial growth as they take advantage of the expanded markets for skills, finances, technology, and other factors of production required for competitive production.
Monitor correspondent
