Accountants have been urged to play a leading role in economic development of the region. 

Speaking at the just-ended Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) regional conference in Kampala, Uganda’s Finance Minister Maria Kiwanuka, said the profession is central in East Africa’s regional financial sector, adding that accountants bring value to economies in all stages of development.

"I would like to further appreciate ACCA for acknowledging the East African Community as the next growth frontier and bringing together great minds to discuss the role that the accountancy profession is playing in realising economic opportunities and the growth of capital markets in the region. Let me confidently state that the accountancy profession is very valuable to the economies of East African region,” she added.

Kiwanuka called on ACCA to develop the capacity of members and encourage global standards to ensure corporate governance, especially in the region’s nascent sectors like oil and gas.

The Eastern Africa Members Convention that was held under the theme, "Eastern Africa – the next growth frontier” acted as a major professional networking and learning event for ACCA members and the business leaders in the region.

Many different regional sectoral growth-drivers such as entrepreneurship, the growth of capital markets, regional integration issues, technology as an enhancer of business, ethical business, the future of the accountancy profession and oil and gas were discussed.

The meeting was attended by ACCA members employed in the private and public sectors, as well as ACCA global president Anthony Harbinson, ACCA director for sub-Sahara Africa Jamil Ampomah and ACCA council Member Japheth Katto, among others. During the convention, new members were inducted.

The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants is the global body for professional accountants that aim to offer business-relevant, first-choice qualifications to people who seek a career in accountancy, finance and management.

The association supports 170,000 members and 432,000 students in 173 countries, helping them to develop successful careers in accounting and business, with the skills needed by employers.

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