Costs to drop in EA union
Jan 26, 2003
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni said on Friday, the creation of the East African Federation would help reduce the transportation costs currently faced by the local business community.
By Stephen Ilungole
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni said on Friday, the creation of the East African Federation would help reduce the transportation costs currently faced by the local business community.
“We need the East African political union, then things will be much more easier in terms of bargaining as a region rather than as Uganda,†Museveni said.
He said he was in talks with Kenyan and Tanzanian authorities, to make the railway network that connects the three countries more efficient.
“We want the customs officials to work 24-hours. We don’t want investors to come at the border posts and wait, as the customs officials are sleeping. Investors shouldn’t worry. The transport costs will be lowered with the efficient system,†he said.
Museveni was speaking during the official launch of the multi-million state-of-the-art Apparels Tri-Star Uganda Limited plant at Bugolobi near Kampala.
Museveni also officially flagged off the second consignment of men’s shorts destined for the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) initiative.
Kumar Dewapura, the Tri-Star Group chairman, said he would establish up to 30 factories throughout the country. He said the success of their venture, would attract more foreign investors into the sector. He said the 30 factories would create another 10,000 jobs, up from the current 1,500.
He said they currently have capacity to produce up to 200,000 pieces of men’s shorts per month and export up to 15,000 pieces weekly to the US.
Dewapura said: “What we promised you when we started has been achieved. The US buyers are so happy with the product. You just relax. This is the beginning of a new era.â€
The Yoweri Museveni Textiles and Apparels Training Centre was also unveiled.
“We named it after the President, because of the tireless efforts he has made in making this whole project a reality. He deserves credit for this,†Tri-Star managing director, Mr. V. Kananathan told The New Vision.
PRESIDENT Yoweri Museveni said on Friday, the creation of the East African Federation would help reduce the transportation costs currently faced by the local business community.
“We need the East African political union, then things will be much more easier in terms of bargaining as a region rather than as Uganda,†Museveni said.
He said he was in talks with Kenyan and Tanzanian authorities, to make the railway network that connects the three countries more efficient.
“We want the customs officials to work 24-hours. We don’t want investors to come at the border posts and wait, as the customs officials are sleeping. Investors shouldn’t worry. The transport costs will be lowered with the efficient system,†he said.
Museveni was speaking during the official launch of the multi-million state-of-the-art Apparels Tri-Star Uganda Limited plant at Bugolobi near Kampala.
Museveni also officially flagged off the second consignment of men’s shorts destined for the US under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) initiative.
Kumar Dewapura, the Tri-Star Group chairman, said he would establish up to 30 factories throughout the country. He said the success of their venture, would attract more foreign investors into the sector. He said the 30 factories would create another 10,000 jobs, up from the current 1,500.
He said they currently have capacity to produce up to 200,000 pieces of men’s shorts per month and export up to 15,000 pieces weekly to the US.
Dewapura said: “What we promised you when we started has been achieved. The US buyers are so happy with the product. You just relax. This is the beginning of a new era.â€
The Yoweri Museveni Textiles and Apparels Training Centre was also unveiled.
“We named it after the President, because of the tireless efforts he has made in making this whole project a reality. He deserves credit for this,†Tri-Star managing director, Mr. V. Kananathan told The New Vision.