By LUKE ANAMI
Delay in the issuance of work permits within East African Community (EAC) is impeding regional economic growth. A meeting of East African chief executive officers in Nairobi yesterday accused Kenya and Tanzania of locking out other East Africans from their job market.
Speaking ahead of the East Africa Business Council meeting set for Rwanda in June this year, KPMG East Africa Chief Executive Officer and Senior Partner Josephat Mwaura took issue with increment of work permit fee among some countries.
“The move negates the purpose for EAC Common Market, which calls for free movement of people, goods, capital and services,” Mwaura said.
He said any restrictions of labour movement in the region actually work against the same governments.
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“By closing doors on labour from within the region, countries are in fact limiting their own growth through locking out investments that would have created more jobs in the long run.” The chief executives now want the states to review domestic policies on issuance of work permits as a way of encouraging trade.
Trade pacts
The chief executives who included Doreen Mbogho of Deloitte, Daniel Connelly Chief Executive Citi East Africa and Citibank in Kenya called on EAC Partner States to work out bilateral trade pacts that will speed up the service sector in the region.
“As industry leaders, we believe the signing of mutual recognition agreement’s and harmonisation of skills is the way to go,” Mwaura said.
The two day Summit to be held in Rwanda from June 4 to 6 is themed ‘Positioning East Africa for Inclusive Prosperity in 2020 and Beyond.’
It is expected to bring together over 100 top chief executive officers, financiers and Government officials to discuss ways of exploiting emerging opportunities in various industries and geographies.
