The leaders also urged the US to introduce direct flights to the region at the meeting, which was attended by Chief Executive Officers from the US and East Africa, at Westin Hotel, New York/DPPS
NEW YORK, US, Sep 20 – Terrorism poses equal threats globally but when it affects nations in Africa, countries such as the United States are quick to issue negative travel advisories.
This, and delays to introduce direct flights from East Africa to the US were among sticky issues leaders brought to the fore at a meeting with America’s US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker in New York Tuesday.
Presidents Yoweri Museveni (Uganda) Paul Kagame (Rwanda) Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn and Kenya’s Deputy President William Ruto said the travel bans have negatively impacted investments and the growth of tourism in East Africa.
“East Africa is the place to invest. It is the place to be… security is good. But you should stop this travel advisory issues,” Museveni urged.
The leaders also urged the US to introduce direct flights to the region at the meeting, which was attended by Chief Executive Officers from the US and East Africa, at Westin Hotel, New York.
The EAC, they added, already has a comprehensive set of regional bankable infrastructure projects and hoped US companies will partner in the implementation of the projects.
The leaders told the US private sector the region was among the best places to invest in the world.
Infrastructural development in terms of roads, railway, hotels as well as travel had improved drastically.
DP Ruto said travel advisories were not a solution to end insecurity.
