The incoming chairman of the Board of Directors of the East African Business Council (EABC), Gerald Ssendaula, has pledged to advocate for improved business environment in the region.“East African businesses are mainly small and medium enterprises and the cost of doing business is currently prohibitive because of infrastructural impediments like high cost of energy, high transport costs, inefficient ports and other challenges,” he said, according to a communiqué.The council, which brings together businesses from the five partner states of the East African Community (EAC), held its 13th Annual General in Kampala on March 29, where Uganda’s Ssendaula was elected to replace Consolata Ndayishimiye of Burundi. Ndayishimiye had been the chair since February 25, 2011. Ssendaula, according to the statement, added that the “private sector must redouble their advocacy efforts and must also get involved in coming up with solutions.”“The incoming chair outlined key objectives that he and his team would achieve during his tenure. Key amongst these will is bringing down the cost of doing business through advocating for enabling policies that help businesses to take advantage of regional integration.”It adds that Ssendaula brings a “wealth of experience to the position of EABC Chair, having worked with both the public and private sector for several years.’Ssendaula is the current Chair of Private Sector Foundation, Uganda; Chair of Uganda Revenue Authority; Chair of Coffee Farmers Association and Chair of Tropical Bank, Uganda. Previously he headed several ministries, including the Ministry of Trade; and Ministry of Finance, Planning and Economic Planning. EABC Board comprises four members from each of the five partner states; the past Chair and the Executive Director as its Secretary. Countries not nominating the chair nominate a vice chair from its four directors. The vice chairs are Antoine Ntisigana of Burundi, Patrick Obath of Kenya, Alphonsine Niyigena of Rwanda and Madame Esther Mkwizu of Tanzania. Established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the EAC integration process, EACBC is the apex body of business associations of the private sector and corporates from member states. Its members had continuously decried persisted trade barriers in the region.
