EAC, Commonwealth Business Summit opens

East African International Business Forum (EAIBF) has opened at the Kigali Serena Hotel. President Paul Kagame, also the Chairman East African Community (EAC) will preside over the event. The two-day summit aimed at marketing the East African region as a single bloc is a follow up of the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of State and Government Meeting (CHOGM). During the meet in Uganda’s capital, Kampala in November last year, the Commonwealth member states agreed to jointly organise a regional investment conference. Francis Gatare, Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Business Operation and Services at Rwanda Development Board (RDB) while addressing the press last week said participants will brainstorm on how to accelerate regional infrastructure development, trade and movement of goods and services. “It will also brainstorm on how to access finance and development, driving inward investments support, improving the investment climate and investment window,” he added. He further said that the forum will devise ways on how the East African region can widen its products on the international market. According to information from organisers, the forum also complements recent strategies taken by the East African Business Council (EABC) and regional investment promotional agencies to strengthen business-government working relationships. The event is being organised by the Common Wealth Business Council (CBC) in partnership with Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF) and EABC. The meeting was expected to bring together about 500 participants from across the world. However by press time, the number had exceeded. The Ugandan, Kenyan, Burundian presidents and the Tanzanian vice president are also expected to attend. Ends

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EAC, Commonwealth Business Summit opens