President William Ruto has asked the East African Community to eliminate restrictions at the borders inhibiting free trade and movement of citizens.
Speaking during Uganda’s 60th Independence Day celebrations in Kampala, Ruto said a borderless EAC will allow people, goods and services to move across the region unhindered, creating opportunities, wealth and prosperity.
The President said EAC should lead the way towards the realization of the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The Head of State announced that he had directed the Trade Cabinet Secretary to work with his Ugandan counterpart Yoweri Museveni in facilitating Uganda to join Kenya in the cohort of eight African countries that have opted to trade together under the guided trade initiative of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.
He further encouraged the East African Community to venture in joint projects especially in sectors where member states have abundance of raw material but lack the processing manpower.
Uganda’s president Yoweri Museveni also shared the sentiments by President Ruto stating that the barriers should be on foreign markets and not the East African Market.