Uhuru Kenyatta calls for common East African Community Tourist Visa

President Uhuru Kenyatta inspects a guard of honour in Uganda [Photo:PPS]

BY PPS

KAMPALA, UGANDA: President Uhuru Kenyatta has said East African Community (EAC) member states need to move fast to put in place a conducive investment environment that will attract foreign and domestic investors.

In this regard the President Uhuru said a quick win that can be implemented and which would have a tremendous impact to the economies of the member states would be a common EAC Tourist Visa.

“It is my hope that our governments can work on this and other initiatives that will have tangible benefits for our economies and people,” the President said.

He noted that Uganda is a key economic partner to Kenya and gave his personal commitment to ensure Kenya does its part in facilitating trade and investment between the two countries.

“Uganda is Kenya’s largest export destination globally. Kenyan companies are also leading investors in Uganda in the areas of banking, insurance, manufacturing, and agriculture. In addition, most Ugandan imports and exports pass through our Port of Mombasa,” he said.

The President noted that it is for this reason that he directed the operations at the Port of Mombasa be streamlined with the aim of hastening the clearing of cargo.

“In addition, I have directed that the relevant government agencies ensure that the movement of goods from Mombasa to Malaba takes a maximum of five days. Indeed, the current situation where goods take up to eighteen days to get to Kampala from Mombasa is untenable and unsustainable if our businesses are going to thrive and transform to global corporations, “ the Head of State said

Speaking on Monday night during a state banquet held in his honour at State House Entebbe, Uganda, President Uhuru noted that regional economic integration is an important component in the development agenda of the EAC.

He said the Kenyan and Ugandan Governments hold the key to the prosperity of the people of these two nations.

President Uhuru reiterated the need for unity among the political, legislative and public service leaders in EAC Member States so as to ensure that the potential of the Community is achieved.

“With a market of over 130 million people, our East African Community has the potential for rapid economic growth and massive employment creation,” the President said.

Expressing his commitment to the ideals of EAC, President Uhuru noted that his Government is focused in achieving the integration agenda which he noted marks the beginning of Africa renaissance.

He said integration agenda can only be achieved by getting rid of all non-tariff barriers to trade that may be hindering the movement of goods as well as workers across the different countries.

The President further said legislatures also need to domesticate all aspects of the Customs Union and Common Market Protocols.

Speaking during the function, President Yoweri Museveni expressed his gratitude to Kenya and other nations for hosting Ugandans during their time of need adding that Kenya is home to many Ugandans.

President Uhuru is in Uganda to attend the Infrastructure and Investment Summit.

He is accompanied by Cabinet Secretaries, Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Engineer Michael Kamau, Adan Mohammed and Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.