East Africa must invest in water resource management and utilisation to ensure the protection of water bodies across the region, a top Lake Victoria Basin Commission (LVBC) has said.
LVBC Executive Secretary Tom Okurut told participants in a Lake Victoria Basin investment forum that investment in water management would enhance equity in water utilisation.
The delegates, who included investors and potential investors, were made aware of the investment opportunities that the Lake Victoria basin offers and how, if fully exploited, the lake could turn around the lives of the people in the region.
Dr Okurut said enhancement of information technology would help promote investments in the region.
Regarding research, he urged the private sector and financial institutions to develop a regional research and development policy. Delegates said joint efforts to market and promote regional tourism in the Lake Victoria Basin should be made.
Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake, the largest tropical lake in the world and is earth’s second largest freshwater lake – only second to Lake Superior in North America.
The lake supports Africa’s largest inland fishery and is home to thousands of biodiversity, flora and fauna. It is a source of food, water and some of the world’s most beautiful tourist attraction spots.
The fishing villages around the lake depend on it but they are mostly poor. Investment in the fish industry would open employment opportunities for these people. “Hydro electric power is another area of investment to meet the energy needs of the region and this is still an area that needs more investment to meet the energy deficit,” says Dr Okurut.
The East African Investment Promotion Agencies in the region want investment but will also want the eco-system preserved.
Source: The Citizen / (allAfrica.com, 15 December 2010
