Kigali, 16 October 2014
President Kagame and President Kenyatta today in Kigali officiated the 6th East African Business Summit organized by Citibank, Deloitte, KPMG, Nation Media Group, PWC and Serena Hotels.
Bringing 200 top government officials, financiers, and CEOs from Africa, the forum aims for business leaders to understand and position their organizations to capitalize on regional integration while appreciating the need to adopt inclusive business solutions.
“Working together, being able to identify what we can do to support each other is what can benefit Africa as a whole. The more we bring resources together, the more we work together, the more each partner states benefits We want every citizen to benefit and make sure that whatever they do earns them enough to change their lives.” President Kagame told participants.
“All we need is political will. Let us not be fearful of one another. Our people are the East African people. To develop through our own means, we have to stop the inward looking mentality that we inherited from our colonial master,” added President Kenyatta
Topics to be discussed at the two day event will include; The Partnership between Business and Government for Economic Development and Growth; Enterprise Development; EAC Fiscal Policy; Managing Mineral Wealth for Broad-based Development; M-commerce and; Engaging a 21st Century Workforce.
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.
Note to the editors;
First held in 2002, The East Africa Business Summit stands out as the leading strategic think tank for the region in a time when calls for regional development efforts abound. Through the Summit, the conveners and business leaders represented, seek to bring thought leadership to regional economic transformation. Through presentations and plenary sittings, participants work towards formulation of solutions to the complex problems facing the region and in turn disabling required transformation and development.