Several businesses in the East African Community region stand a chance to win awards at the inaugural East African Business Council (EABC), inaugural Business Excellence Awards. EABC is an apex body of business associations of the private sector and corporates from the six East African Community partner states. The awards were organised as part of events marking its 20th anniversary. November 2017 marked 20 years since the establishment of the EABC and its Secretariat has outlined a number of activities and events. According to the EABC Executive Director, Lilian Awinja, the awards are aimed at showcasing and celebrating businesses that have achieved excellence in various aspects of their operations across East Africa, keeping with the spirit of the EAC integration. She said: “The business sector is a driving force in East Africa’s economy through the creation of jobs and opportunities that enable citizens to earn a living and thrive as well as being a major player in the integration process.” “The idea to host these awards was thus born out of the need for a platform upon which the Council will honour businesses that have achieved success through their vision, operations and business ethics.” Award categories The inaugural EABC Business Excellence Awards will be organised across three categories, the first will recognize one company as Overall East African Regional Company. The second category will recognise business that excelled in cross cutting categories, namely manufacturing, services, SME, woman owned enterprises, green economy, innovation and corporate social responsibility. The third category will reward outstanding companies across seven industries, including financial services, transport and logistics (including airline), media, tourism & hospitality, building and construction in addition to the extractive and mining sector. Entry process Entries are open for companies established in any of the EAC Partner States with each company eligible to submit bids for at most three categories of the awards. Organisers say this may include one entry for the overall award and any two entries for either the cross cutting category or the sector specific categories. The three entries may also be from the cross cutting and sector specific categories only. Entries will be completed online through a dedicated portal on the EABC website. There will be a six-member panel of judges “who command in-depth understanding of the EAC integration processes, the business dynamics of the EAC region as well as the role that the private sector can play in shaping the development of the region” to adjudicate entries. The members of the Panel include Faustin Mbundu, former Chairperson of EABC, former chair of Private Sector Federation (PSF), and a leading business person in Rwanda. The awards process commenced January 10, and will run until February 7. The judging and verification process will run from February 8 to March 7. Each category will have three finalists to be announced on March 12. The winners who will receive a trophy and certificate of recognition in addition to earning the ultimate accolade of business excellence among peers in the region will be feted at a Gala Dinner scheduled for March 23 at the Hotel Intercontinental, Nairobi, Kenya. editorial@newtimes.co.rw
