By MARC NKWAME
Just as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has helped in the growth of the East African region’s economy the same medium will be important in joining the citizens of the five member states towards the intended integration.
Vice- President Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal
Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal stated here over the weekend that the East African Community (EAC) is determined to speed up regional integration as well as the anticipated political federation along the path the member states have chosen.
Making his keynote speech at the Arusha-held, one-day workshop on Competitiveness in East African Countries organized jointly by EAC, World Economic Forum and African Commission, Dr Bilal noted that in the first decade of EAC existence 2000-2010 the Community witnessed a four-fold growth of its GDP from 20 billion to 80 billion.
He urged EAC member states to sustain the same rapid growth if the region wants to attain middle income status by 2025 and at the same time become more competitive on the global scene.
“We must force ourselves to think as a region, plan as a region, aspire as a region and implement as a region,” added the vice president. Dr Bilal noted that that the region is blessed with abundant natural resources some of which have only recently been discovered like oil in Uganda and Kenya and natural gas in Tanzania.
Just as Information and Communication Technology (ICT) has helped in the growth of the East African region’s economy the same medium will be important in joining the citizens of the five member states towards the intended integration.
Vice- President Dr Mohamed Gharib Bilal
Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal stated here over the weekend that the East African Community (EAC) is determined to speed up regional integration as well as the anticipated political federation along the path the member states have chosen.
Making his keynote speech at the Arusha-held, one-day workshop on Competitiveness in East African Countries organized jointly by EAC, World Economic Forum and African Commission, Dr Bilal noted that in the first decade of EAC existence 2000-2010 the Community witnessed a four-fold growth of its GDP from 20 billion to 80 billion.
He urged EAC member states to sustain the same rapid growth if the region wants to attain middle income status by 2025 and at the same time become more competitive on the global scene.
“We must force ourselves to think as a region, plan as a region, aspire as a region and implement as a region,” added the vice president. Dr Bilal noted that that the region is blessed with abundant natural resources some of which have only recently been discovered like oil in Uganda and Kenya and natural gas in Tanzania.
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