Lecture by Mr. Wesonga Lamech on East African Business Culture Specifics

On November 11, 2021, within the course: 2MO303 -International Business and Protocol, the Department of International Business was pleased to host a lecture on East African Business Culture Specifics by Mr. Wesonga Lamech, Manager Policy & Standards, EABC.

The lecture focused on preparing students for their future business contacts with the East African Region. Focusing on real examples, Mr. Wesonga introduced key aspects of “the first business meeting” protocol and pointed out business culture specifics. To illustrate some crucial differences, a comparison with Japanese culture was included.

Mr. Lamech Wesonga is the Manager Policy and Standards at the East African Business Council Secretariat based in Arusha Tanzania handling matters of EAC Regional integration particularly an enabling environment for the Private Sector to thrive, influencing policy changes to Policy Makers within the EAC Integration Process. Lamech also takes lead on standardization and SPS activities for the private sector.  He holds a Master’s degree in International Economics and Trade from Shanghai University, China. Prior to this, he obtained his Bachelor’s degree from Makerere University Kampala in Business Administration Majoring in Financial Services, and is finalizing a Post Graduate Diploma in Trade Policy and Law awarded by Lundi University. He has over 10 years of experience working with the private sector on Economic and Trade Policy matters within the region and beyond.

Lamech contributed to the formulation of the EAC Industrialization Policy, Uganda Vision 2040, and is working to ensure the EAC Local content Policy is formulated in the short run to enable the Partner States to give priority of procurement to locally made products and services.

Among other areas of work, he has also worked with Coca-Cola Company, Uganda Manufacturers Association- Lobbying and advocating for the interests of industrialists at National, Regional and International Levels and was a negotiator for the EAC- EU- EPA agreement under the Rules of Origin Cluster.

At his current duty station, Lamech is working to ensure that the EAC business environment is conducive for businesses to succeed for example elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers, compliance to standards and SPS measures, effective lobbying to ensure the EAC Protocols relevant to businesses are implemented and adhered to in areas such as trade facilitation,  movement of goods and services and for the EAC private sector to benefit and take part in the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area and the Tripartite Free Trade Area.

The course: 2MO303 -International Business and Protocol is an optional course for all VSE (Prague University of Economics and Business) students. It focuses on cross-cultural negotiation competencies and protocol.