Over 500 expected for EAC Business Forum

BY FELLY KIMENYI

Saturday, 25th October 2008

NYARUGENGE - At least 500 business executives from across the globe are expected to attend the Commonwealth East African International Business Forum (EAIBF) planned for Kigali next week.

This was revealed yesterday by Francis Gatare, Deputy CEO, Business operations and Services of the Rwanda Development Board (RDB) in a press briefing that took place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. According to the tentative programme, some East African Community (EAC) Heads-of-States are also expected.

“We expect between 150 and 200 from the broader international community, and 50-100 from the EAC member states excluding Rwanda. The rest will be local,” Gatare said.

He added that the high level forum will be a follow up of the East African Investment Conference that also took place in Kigali in June.

This forum, according to Gatare, is jointly organized by the Rwanda Investment and Export Promotion Agency (RIEPA), the EAC and the Commonwealth Business Council.

It will be held under the theme “Trade and Investment Opportunities: East Africa—one market, one destination” and international investors will have a chance to explore the opportunities of investing in the community.