President William Ruto has said the East African Community (EAC) will only achieve its potential if it eliminates restrictions at the borders inhibiting free trade and movement of citizens.
Speaking at Kololo Ceremonial Grounds in Kampala, Uganda, on Sunday, October 9, during the 60th Independence Day celebrations, Ruto noted that a borderless EAC would allow people, goods and services to move across the region unhindered.
"It is our place as leaders and citizens of the EAC region for us to work together so that we can transform our borders which today stand out as barriers and convert them to bridges so that goods, services and people can move across East Africa without any impedes. You have the age and you have the experience, take the responsibility and lead the charge," he stated.
President Ruto urged his Ugandan counterpart President Yoweri Museveni to take charge and lead the region in ensuring EAC becomes a borderless community.
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The Head of State announced that he had directed the Kenyan Trade Cabinet Secretary to work with his Ugandan counterpart 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.
President Ruto asked members of the business community to take advantage of the protocols and platforms of the EAC and AcFTA to do business across the region.
President Ruto encouraged EAC to venture into joint projects, especially in sectors where member states have an abundance of raw material but lack the processing manpower.
