Kampala — A REGIONAL portal for the East African Community members states has been launched in Kampala. The portal, www.eac-quality.net, was unveiled by the ICT minister, Dr. Ham Mulira, at Hotel Africana last week in Kampala.

The minister explained that to tap the opportunities of the 21st century, the Government had liberalised the economy to encourage private enterprise growth and investment.

"For example, under the new licensing regime, one can invest in the entire range of public telecommunications services and infrastructure," he said.

On the website, the minister commented: "It will enable the business community to obtain information on technical barriers to trade that will facilitate overcoming interstate trade-related disputes."

He, however, warned: "It is one thing to put in place an ICT tool and another putting it into use." Mulira urged the regional business community and policy makers to visit the portal.

The website will provide online services related to quality standards in the East African Community, George Opiyo, the standards manager at the Uganda National Bureau of Standards, said.

He explained that the portal would help the Community access up-to-date data and information.

It will also allow the public to send content to the online editors on george.opiyo@unbs.go.ug; topista.agoa@unbs.go.ug; and unbs@infocom.co.ug.

The portal was funded by the German government under the euro 3m (about sh7.2b) grant to the Community.

Uganda is the first regional member to complete the project. Similar portals will be launched in Kenya and Tanzania.