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EAST AFRICAN COMMUNITY

SPEECH BY AMB. DR. RICHARD SEZIBERA, EAC SECRETARY
GENERAL AT THE REGIONAL PRIVATE SECTOR CEO BREAKFAST
FORUM
, BUJUMBURA BURUNDI,
18th March 2015
Executive Director, EABC, Andrew Luzze
Representatives of Trademark East Africa,
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

I am delighted to be here today in this beautiful city of Bujumbura, Burundi.

Let me first take this opportunity to thank the Government and People of
Burundi for their usual warm hospitality and excellent hosting of this
Breakfast meeting.
Gentlemen:
This is a great time for East Africa, It is the right time to foster closer
relations and take full advantage of the shifting focus of the global
economy. By promoting free trade and movement of labour, the EAC as a
region can deploy to the maximum extent possible the law of comparative
advantage, leading to higher incomes for their citizens. By lowering barriers

to entry into business and improving regulatory frameworks, we would both

resuscitate investment and stimulate growth in the EAC.
If we fully integrate, investors will get more confidence in and exposure to
investment opportunities in our dynamic markets.
Electronic Single Window (ESW)
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We at the EAC are working fulltime to implement policies which have the
potential to increase investment and growth, and which also address
directly issues of poverty and inequality.
In our efforts to make business more friendly to the Private Sector in
Burundi, I am glad to inform you that earlier this month, the Burundi
Revenue Authority (OBR) launched a paperless electronic system that is
aimed at simplifying submission and processing of trade information for
export and imports reducing time (7days to 1 day) on import to Burundi
from Dar-es-Salaam by at least 15%.
The system, known as Electronic Single Window (ESW) is just part of the
initiatives we are putting in place to allow submission and processing of
import, export and transit related trade documents electronically thus
reducing time taken to processes and increasing efficiency. It is also
expected to contribute significantly to the 30% reduction of the average
time a truck takes to cross Kobero border post (within Burundi).
On the same note, I am glad to inform you that the EAC Governments have
now commenced on the upgrading of the Holili border, Singida and Kobero
to Bujumbura corridor in additional to a container depot aimed at bringing
business closer to Burundians people. This new transport corridor will
reduce the distance from Mombasa to Bujumbura through the Northern
Corridor by 358 kilometres.
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Trade deficit
Looking at the statistics provided by the central Bank of Burundi, it is clear
that Burundi's trade deficit narrowed to $640 million in 2014 from $717
million a year earlier after the local currency strengthened against the dollar
and the volume of imports fell.
From January to December 2014, Burundi's franc gained 0.5 percent
against the dollar compared with the previous year. Export revenues rose
32.4 percent to $125 million, while imports fell 5.7 percent to $765 million.
I therefore urge you the private sector present here today to go an extra
mile and revive exports and diversify this vibrant economy once again as
you have always done.
Burundi Elections

Ladies and Gentlemen:

It wont be right to finish my remarks without saying a word on the
political climate in this beautiful country. Burundi has made substantial
progress, overcoming the formidable challenges since the end of the
civil war. With Burundi going to the polls in May this year, the East African
Community would like to emphasis on the importance of organising peaceful
election.

As

Burundians

in

previous

with

the

elections,

opportunity

this
to

years

further

elections
strengthen

present
peace

consolidation efforts undertaken since the Arusha Accord.

I would like to challenge you the private sector present here today to see this
upcoming Elections as a tool towards harmonising democratic governance in a
country and help spur political and socio-economic development.
Our focus as EAC will remain to work closely and through you the private sector
in Burundi before, during, and after the elections to help send out a strong
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message of peace to the people of Burundi.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

As I come to a close, I would like to acknowledge some of our partners that
include the East African Business Council (EABC) and Trade Mark East
Africa (TMEA) who we have worked hand in hand in making this noble idea
a reality. We at the EAC Secretariat cherish you as our Partners. I also call
upon those of you that are not yet members of the East African Business
Council (EABC) to join the EABC, which is the most dynamic body of the
private sector in the East African Community, and a champion of sustained
economic growth and prosperity in the region.
I see huge opportunities for our investors and our companies from closer
ties that will emanate from our Integration. I therefore look forward to a
more elaborate discussion during this breakfast session and urge
stakeholders to be frank in such deliberations. This will enable us to
generate ideas and contribute to the resolution of immediate challenges
and ensure a thriving and proud East African Private Sector.
Thank you for Listening.