Let's have a border-less EAC to promote trade, Ruto echoes Muhoozi

President William Ruto and his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni at State House Uganda after he arrived for the county's 60th Independence Day celebrations. [PSCU] President William Ruto has called for a border-less East African Community (EAC) where the more than 300 million people in the member states can enjoy the vast resources. Speaking during the 60th Independence Anniversary of Uganda yesterday, Ruto said President Yoweri Museveni, being the senior most in the region, has a responsibility of leading citizens towards the achievement of this goal. He reiterated Kenya's commitment to the EAC, saying borders stand as barriers to bridges that allow movement of people, goods and services in the region. "With age and experience comes a lot of responsibility that is why I believe that President Yoweri Museveni is best suited in this noble goal of making our 300 million people share opportunities and prosperity which can only be achieved if we eliminate borders separating us," said Dr Ruto. Lagging behind The president expressed concern that business people in the region were lagging behind because of trade barriers and urged policy-makers to take advantage of infrastructure provided by the EAC and the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to transform the region to greater heights of economic prosperity. "We are looking in our lifetime in the next few years that people, goods and services can move across this East Africa as we lead the way in ensuring that the Africa Continental Free Trade Area becomes a reality," he said. Ruto said there is no reason there should be food in Uganda and yet the same cannot be found in Kenya. He called on EAC member states to move in fast to harness opportunities that exist in the region for mutual benefit of the people. "It's our place as leaders and citizens of the East African region to work together so we can transform our borders which today stand as barriers and convert them to bridges so that goods, services and people can move across East Africa without impediment," he said. The president noted that the region imports 1.2 million tonnes of fertiliser annually yet there is raw material locally for manufacture of the same which if well utilised will enable EAC member states to save millions of dollars which could be used on other projects. "We are spending 500 million dollars (Sh60 billion) to import clinker for cement making yet we can save this money by making use of raw materials in the region, we are also spending another 500 million dollars of raw material for steel yet we can make use of what we have," he said. Ruto announced that he had instructed the Trade Cabinet Secretary in Kenya to work with his Ugandan counterpart to formulate and sign guided trade agreements on opportunities for investments and for EAC citizens to work together. Guided trade "I did instruct the Minister for Trade in Kenya to work with the Minister of Trade in Uganda so that we can formulate and sign into the guided trade agreement that will facilitate the African Continental Free Trade Area to become a reality so that we can harness the opportunities for investment for trade and for people to work together in our region," he said. The president is on his first official visit to Uganda where he enjoys close ties with Museveni. Their close ties have seen him tour the neighbouring country several times and he even campaigned for the Ugandan leader. Ruto's tour comes days after General Muhoozi Kainerugaba, Museveni's son, kicked up a diplomatic storm following his tweets in which he alleged that it would take his army only two weeks to take over Nairobi. Museveni came out to apologise for his son's tweets after the Uganda Foreign Affairs Ministry issued a statement that General Muhoozi remarks did not represent the official position of the neighbouring country. He said Uganda enjoys cordial relations with Kenya and there should be no cause for alarm. Ruto was accompanied by First Lady Rachel Ruto and several government officials in a trip that is aimed at cementing bilateral relations.

Let's have a border-less EAC to promote trade, Ruto echoes Muhoozi

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Let's have a border-less EAC to promote trade, Ruto echoes Muhoozi

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