General Purpose Committee meets in Dodoma as other EALA Committees inspect developments in the region. Regional legislators convene in Dodoma, Tanzania tomorrow for a three day workshop to discuss strategies aimed at enhancing innovation and appropriate technologies in the EAC region.
The workshop organized by the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)’s Committee on General Purpose (GPC) takes place on August 18-21, 2011. It aims at taking stock of the progress of existing technologies in the Partner States as well as means of strengthening and promoting exchange of scientific information and knowledge experiences on policy making.
The workshop is to be opened by the Chairperson of the Committee, Hon. Sebtuu Nassor. The Committee shall engage experts in development issues to explore how policies revolving around innovation and appropriate technologies can be improved. Various papers and presentations are expected to be made by representatives of government agencies and EAC secretariat officials. The topics include use of science, technology and innovation to spur economic prosperity in the region in the 21st century, the contribution of science and technology to economic development and how to harness opportunities and resolve challenges for the region. The workshop will also feature country presentations from the various Partner States.
The workshop takes place at an opportune moment for the region which is suffering the worst brunt of famine in decades. While agriculture is considered the prime engine for the development of the region and continent’s agragian economies, it continues to lag behind as a sector- characterized by poor productivity.
Traditionally, innovation is seen as a process of combining resources in new or unusual ways to generate new or improved products (goods and services) and processes. It is hoped that resolutions emanating from the workshop shall be presented to the Assembly for adoption. The workshop also hopes to enhance the role of parliaments on legislative action, representation and oversight in respect of education, research, science and technology.
Meanwhile another committee of EALA, Communications and Trade Investment (CTI) shall next week convene on-spot assessments on the regionalization of capital markets in the Partner States. The objective of the exercise which takes place from August 28, 2011 to September 1, 2011, shall be to assess the status of the implementation of the regionalization of capital markets. The activity is to be subdivided in to two, with the Committee headed by Hon. Dr James Ndahiro dividing itself in two groups to visit the Partner States concurrently. The first team of seven Members shall cover Dar es Salaam before heading to Nairobi. The second routing plies Kampala and Kigali and consists of another seven members. Three EALA staff shall be accompanying the Members in the week-long assignment.
Both Groups shall target to meet officials of the capital markets’ authorities and national stock exchange bureaus in the respective Partner States. The meetings shall deliberate on the opportunities and challenges involved in taking regional markets beyond national borders with the necessary recommendations.
Also doing the rounds during the same period is the Accounts Committee – this time, carrying out on-spot assessment of the implementation of the EAC financial regulations as part of the oversight work. The Committee headed by Hon. Bernard Mulengani is hitting the ground on August 21-26, 2011. The Committee’s Members shall visit Kisumu, Kenya and Arusha, Tanzania to provide oversight on internal audit systems of the EAC organs and institutions.
EALA has seven Standing Committees. These are the House Business Committee, the Committee on Accounts, the Committee on Communications, Trade and Investment, the Committee on General Purpose, the Committee on Legal, Rules and Privileges, the Committee on Agriculture, Tourism and Natural Resources and the Committee on Regional Affairs and Conflict Resolution.
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For More Information, contact: Bobi Odiko, Senior Public Relations Officer; East African Legislative Assembly; Tel: +255-27-2508240 Cell: +255 787 870945, +254-733-718036; Email: bodiko@eachq.org Web: https://www.eala.org Arusha, Tanzania.
