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Rwanda to host East Africa business summit on manufacturing

Xinhua, February 25, 2017 Adjust font size:

Entrepreneurs from the East Africa region and beyond are set to convene here a major manufacturing summit, announced the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat on Friday.

The small central African country will host the 2nd high-level East African Manufacturing Business Summit and Exhibition (EAMBS) from May 23 to 25, dubbed: "harnessing the Manufacturing Potential for Sustainable Economic Growth."

The three-day meeting will bring together top executives in the manufacturing and agri-business sectors, policy and decision makers, as well as key financial institutions from Africa and beyond to dialogue and explore opportunities for investment in manufacturing and agri-business in the EAC region.

Speaking to reporters, Jean Baptiste Havugimana, Director of Productive Sectors at the EAC Secretariat, said the conference will provide a strategic platform for an extensive and intensive dialogue on opportunities and challenges of industrialization in the region.

"It will be a good opportunity for EAC entrepreneurs to explore market opportunities for their products and as well as investment opportunities within the East Africa region," he noted.

Havugimana noted that the business summit platform borne out of the recognition that sustainable economic growth and development in East Africa is unattainable without creating a vibrant and diversified manufacturing sector.

The forum will also include an exhibition where investors, enterprises, researchers and academia will collectively showcase new products and services as well as exhibit the latest advances in manufacturing technology and innovation, particularly those with relevance to SMEs.

It is expected to create greater awareness about the opportunities and challenges arising from the common market protocol for the regional manufacturing sector, according to organizers.

Gerard Mukubu, chief advocacy officer, Rwanda Private sector Federation said that the summit will serve as a platform not only for initial business contacts, but also for exchange of ideas on how to promote manufacturing sector in the region.

"The meeting will lay strategies on how to improve the competitiveness and capabilities of domestic firms and promoting industrial development," he added.

The summit will also address existing gaps in policy and business environment by providing a platform for dialogue among manufacturers, suppliers, technology providers and policy makers. Endit