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Uganda: DRC, Country for Gold Centre
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The Monitor (Kampala)
24 December 2007
Posted to the web 27 December 2007
Grace Matsiko
Kampala
Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are setting up a regional gold trade centre in a bid to stop check the rampant smuggling of the precious metal across borders.
The centre is one of the economic decisions taken at the just concluded 5th session of the Joint Permanent Commission (JPC) sitting in Kampala. The meeting revived the commission established in 1986 to look into issues affecting DRC and Uganda, but it has been in limbo since then.
"The establishment of a regional gold trade centre and refinery in the DRC will be starting within 30 days," said a ministerial report on the mineral resources at the end of the three-day meeting.
The report obtained by Daily Monitor, indicates that DRC submitted a draft agreement of cooperation between the two countries in the field of geology, in mining and metrology.
But one of the outstanding issues remained the conclusion of an agreement for mutual assistance in customs, matters for preventive research and repression of illegal activities.
"Setting up a common project to fight illegal trade and fraudulent networks in minerals," the report added. Mr Sam Kutesa, the Foreign Affairs minister, and his DRC counterpart, Mr Mbusa Nyamwisi, signed the document.
The others are Mr Kamanda Bataringaya, the minister of State for Energy and Mineral Resources, Mr Nelson Gaggawala, (State for Trade and Tourism) and that of Lands, Dr. Kasirivu Atwooki and their respective counterparts from the DRC.
Dr Bataringaya said the establishment of a regional gold centre was intended to harmonise the trade in the two countries but that details are being worked out.
"Ministers responsible for Minerals (are) to meet between 20th-25th January 2008 in Kampala," the report said. On cooperation in trade, investment and Customs, the report said, Uganda and DRC subscribe to Comesa trade regime on the elimination of tariff barriers and trade facilitation.
According to the report, the meeting resolved that Uganda and DRC should urgently address complaints of multiple taxation, illegal roadblocks, extortion and fraud along the common borders.
One of the decisions taken was that there should be promotion of investments between Uganda Investment Authority and its counterpart in DRC (ANABI) by June 2008.
The two countries should then negotiate a bi- lateral agreement on trade and investment on the basis of the COMESA regime, which does not conflict with East African Community (EAC), the report added. This should be done by June 2008.
"Put in place Standards and Export promotion agencies between the two parties, for example Uganda Bureau of Standards, to have a memorandum of understanding through diplomatic agencies with their counterparts in DRC within one year," the meeting further resolved.
It said there should be cooperation between the non-government sectors such as collaboration between Chambers of Commerce, fishermen and cattle keepers.
The two countries agreed to work on major inter-state trunk roads of Kabale- Kisoro-Bunagana, Ntungamo-Rukungiri, Katunguru-Ishasha, FortPortal-Bundibugyo-Lamia, Karugutu- Ntoroko, Kakara-Rwebisengo and Biiso-Bukami- Butiaba-Wanseko.
The other outstanding activity between the two countries is the extension of a railway between Kasese-Kisangani and Pakwatch to Kisangani in the Eastern DRC.
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The ministers responsible for transport in both countries will meet in February next year to sort out the details, the report said of the railway line.
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