East African governments should incorporate private sector in the ongoing implementation of the East Africa Community (EAC) common market strategies, a top official has said.
EAC Permanent Secretary David Nalo said involving the business community would speed up implementation of key priority projects.
“There is no doubt that any viable integration process depends on a dynamic and well-functioning private sector-driven economy. We need to include our private partners to speed up the process,” he said.
“This means investors in the region have to be involved in the design, as well as implementation of regional activities,” Nalo said.
Harmonise Goals Mr Nalo spoke during the national consultative workshop on priority projects and programmes for the 4th EAC Development Strategy (2011-2015) in Nairobi yesterday. He urged the EAC secretariat to channel their energy towards the harmonisation of various visions, which he noted shared basic principles of life improvement.
“There is need to have shared vision, a regional vision would help bring states involved together to work towards a common goal,” he said.
Priority projects of the secretariat include working on issues with direct influence to the people in the region. This includes infrastructure, energy and ICT among others.

CAROL MUTHONDU