East Africa Community secretary general Richard Sesibera has urged member countries to pass legislations that will remove non-tariff barriers to woo more investors in the region.
Speaking during the Noreb conference, Sesibera said the high taxes being levied to investments will make investors to shy away from the EAC.
"I urge the EAC members to pass legislations that will remove all tariff barriers so as to attract investors for an economically empowered region," he said.
He said local investors should also be encouraged to invest in member countries instead of depending on foreign investors.
“East Africa has a potential of local investors with skills in medicine, property, agriculture among others. What they need is to give them opportunity and East Africa will never be the same again," he said.
He urged member countries to accept investment from their neighbours to improve their economies.