Three Heads of State from the East Africa Community (EAC) region are set to visit Kenya in August this year to expand their corporation and investment initiatives.
The Ugandan High Commissioner to Kenya, Phibby Otaala disclosed that the leaders of; Tanzania, Uganda and Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are keen to ensure regional integration is domesticated to benefit citizens at the grassroots.
Otaala said the Kenya and Uganda have built a great partnership in trade, investment and tourism which they hope to build on further.
Speaking during the investment Conference and Economic Diplomacy for delegates from both countries in Kisumu on Friday, the Ambassador disclosed that Uganda has 22 industrial parks initiated by the Chinese who are their valuable partners keen to facilitate the economic block.
She revealed that so far four counties; Trans Nzoia, Bungoma, Busia and Bomet have already toured Uganda for bench marking on the successful industrial parks and the Kisumu forum was a follow up aimed at enabling the 14 counties raise their revenue collection.
Asked about the 24 Kenyan fishermen arrested by Ugandan authorities’ Amb. Otaala argued that the move was aimed at safeguarding the rules and regulations which protected the fishermen from capturing the fingerlings prematurely.
However, she promised to follow up the matter to facilitate their release to avoid unnecessary conflicts between the two neighbouring countries.
The Lake Region Economic Block (LREB) CEO, Abala Wanga said Kenya government has so far allocated Kshs. 2.5billion to help support the expansion of maritime transport on Lake Victoria alongside other programmes.
Wanga pointed out that the region with over 20million people is also set to benefit from the establishment of LREB regional bank which has already been sanctioned by all the 14 counties.
He singled out the key areas prioritised by LREB as; banking and maritime, privatisation of sugar companies as well as environmental management more so on Lake Victoria and the surrounding natural resources.
By Joseph Ouma/Dorothy Otieno
