Economy

East Africa Business Summit kicks off in Kigali

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President Uhuru Kenyatta with Rwanda President Paul Kagame during the East Africa Business Summit in Kigali, Rwanda. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Business leaders from East Africa are meeting in Kigali, Rwanda to discuss how to make economic prosperity more inclusive and easier to achieve.

The two-day East Africa Business Summit kicked off Wednesday with addresses by chair-person Linus Gitahi, the chief executive of Nation Media Group, and Dr Richard Sezibera, the secretary general of the East African Community.

The EAC secretary general praised the recent successful negotiation of Economic Partnership Agreements (EPAs) with the European Union.

Presidents Paul Kagame of Rwanda and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya are headlining the event, which is attended by several captains of industry.

The two heads of state are sharing their views on how businesses and governments can partner to bring about inclusive prosperity, in a session moderated by Mr Joshua Oigara, chief executive of KCB Bank.

Oigara’s discussion is on six key issues, including Africa’s competitiveness, leveraging of labour skills, insecurity and health challenges.

CLICK HERE to follow the discussion LIVE on the Daily Nation website.

The summit will also explore enterprise development, tax and fiscal policies across the region, managing mineral wealth, accelerating mobile phone commerce, as well as labour policies to allow creation of jobs and mobility of talent across East Africa.

“We want to put our heads together and think of ways to accelerate our efforts while also ensuring that prosperity is inclusive,” Mr Gitahi said.

Safaricom CEO Bob Collymore, Rwanda Development Board’s Francis Gatare, Trademark East Africa’s Frank Matsaert and Ali Mufuruki of Infotech Investment Group are expected to speak at the event.

The meeting comes just over a year before the December 2015 date when members of the East African Community are expected to have reached key benchmarks allowing for the free movement of people, goods, services and capital across the region. The summit is organised by Nation Media Group, Citi Bank, KPMG, Deloitte, PriceWaterhouseCoopers and Serena Hotels.