Ruto roots for joint-industrial projects in the EAC region

President William Ruto is championing cross-border industrial projects within the East African Community (EAC), asserting that such initiatives will collectively empower the region.

Speaking on Sunday in Tororo, Uganda, during the launch of the Vertically Integrated Steel Industry project, Ruto said Kenya is pursuing regional collaboration in strategic sectors, including steel manufacturing, to promote self-sufficiency, boost intra-African trade, and lay the foundation for collective prosperity under the EAC Industrialisation Strategy.

“As a region and as a community, we recognise that the sum of our collective strength far exceeds the power of our individual nations. It is this shared understanding that anchors our commitment to cooperation,” President Ruto said.

He highlighted Kenya’s dedication to regional industrial integration.

Ruto emphasised that shared infrastructure, coordinated industrial policies, and value addition are central to building a connected and competitive East Africa.

The President lauded Rwanda President Paul Kagame for his enduring advocacy for regional integration, which, he said, has created an enabling environment for industrial projects like the Tororo facility to thrive.

“President Kagame’s vision reminds us that the future of Africa rests neither in isolationism nor competition, but in cooperation and collaboration,” he said.

The Tororo steel facility currently employs more than 400 workers, with plans to expand the workforce to 20,000 by 2027 across its East African operations.

Beyond direct job creation, Ruto said the project will open opportunities for EAC-based companies in transport, energy, construction, and services through cross-border supply contracts and strategic joint ventures.

Ruto also commended Kenyan industrialist Dr Narendra Raval, whose investment and leadership were instrumental in bringing the project to life.

He stressed that Africa’s steel sector is increasingly pivotal in driving economic growth and industrialisation, supporting value-added manufacturing, and shaping the continent’s economic trajectory.

The President noted that Africa’s steel market reached 39.5 million tonnes in 2024, projected to hit 52 million tonnes by 2034, fueled by infrastructure development and industrialisation efforts.

He added that Sub-Saharan Africa has 20 to 25 billion tonnes of proven and probable iron ore reserves, positioning the region not only to meet domestic demand but also to emerge as a significant global steel exporter.

“Our countries are uniquely positioned to make a considerable leap in the regional and international steel market.Harnessing our steel production capacity highlights our abundant mineral resources and reflects a shifting policy environment and investment landscape aimed at unlocking these resources,” Ruto said.

Through projects like the Tororo steel facility, the President said the EAC can achieve sustainable economic growth while strengthening cooperation, regional integration, and industrialisation across member states.