EAC Competition Authority Commissioners Meet in Arusha
East African Community Secretariat; Arusha, Tanzania; 19 September 2017:
The 2nd Meeting of the EAC Competition Authority to develop EAC Competition Authority Rules of Procedure and review progress reports for the Authority’s activities for the period January- June, 2017 was held on 13th – 15th September, 2017 at the EAC headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania
Gracing the opening of the meeting the EAC Secretary General, Amb. Liberat Mfumukeko emphasized the importance of competition law and policy in the facilitation of regional integration.
Amb. Mfumukeko informed the meeting that the Community has huge opportunities which are attractive to potential investors. However, the EAC markets pose challenges to investors and consumers including the charging of high prices arising from anti-competitive practices such as cartels. These practices impede effective competition in the markets, added Amb Mfumukeko.
The Secretary General disclosed to the meeting that the community was also focusing on increasing investment in industrialization and agricultural sectors as part of her strategies to reduce the high rate of unemployment in the region.
He informed the Commissioners that there is need to have a conducive environment to create employment by attracting investors from the Community and the rest of the world.
Amb. Mfumukeko further informed the Commissioners that he was hopeful that they will create an impact in the Community as they play a critical role towards leveling competition regulation across the Partner States
On his part ,the Chairperson of the Commissioners, Mr. Sam Watasa reiterated that full operationalization of the EAC competition Authority (Authority) would help to address market distortions that affect private sector investments.
He also noted that development of Competition policy and law in the region was at different levels of implementation. Kenya and Tanzania have operational National Competition Agencies, Rwanda and Burundi had enacted laws but are yet to be operationalized. In Uganda there was a draft Competition Bill. He envisaged that once the Authority became fully operational, the processes of operationalizing competition laws in Partner States would be enhanced.
The meeting was attended by Competition Authority Commissioners from all the Partner States and staff of the EAC Competition Authority.
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For more information, please contact:
Mr Owora Richard Othieno
Head, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department
EAC Secretariat
Arusha, Tanzania
Tel: +255 784 835021
Email: OOthieno [at] eachq.org
About the East African Community Secretariat:
The East African Community (EAC) is a regional intergovernmental organisation of five Partner States, comprising Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda, with its headquarters in Arusha, Tanzania.
