The private sector should be involved in the designing of policies that affect business, as well as regional initiatives that are aimed at supporting the business community, the East African Business Council has urged. "It’s imperative that we get involved fully in the drafting of policies that impact trade, as well as participate in business-related initiatives that are geared at strengthening the regional business community,” Vimal Shah, the chairman of the East African Business Council (EABC), said. He was speaking during an EABC retreat at the Lake Kivu Serena Hotel in Ruvabu District in the Western Province over the weekend.The meeting brought together board members and  business management teams from  Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda. It aimed at assessing the East African Community (EAC) business environment  amidst the expanding mandate in regard to regional integration.Shah argued that active involvement of the private sector will help realign their thinking towards working for the betterment of the EAC integration agenda.Denis Karera, who represents Rwanda on the EABC board, said sharing of information between the business associations in the region and the EAC secretariat will help keep businesses updated on the opportunities the bloc presents."The council and EAC secretariat need to share information, especially on how to market EAC goods, as well as on issues of product specialisation, tax incentives and joint ventures,” Karera said.  Nathan Gashayija, the Ministry of East African Affairs director for policy and programmes co-ordination, said there is need for the private sector to get involved in developing mechanisms of addressing the challenges they face.According to Gashayija, there are many bottlenecks that are hindering regional trade, including tight monetary policies, unharmonised investment laws and policies, lack of enough support services and external tariffs.Andrew Luzze, the executive director of the East African Business Council, said the council would institute a plan on how the EABC can enhance co-ordination between the private sector and EAC affairs ministries across the region."This will help support efforts toward addressing the challenges the businesses in the region face,” Luzze said. Currently, the average per capita income of the 144 million East Africans ranges between $300 and $700 per year. Established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process, EABC is the apex body of business associations from the five East African Community partner states.It also aims at fostering an enabling business environment and promoting private sector’s regional and global competitiveness in trade.