Business Negotiation and Protocol in East African Region by Lamech Wesonga

On April 27, 2023, the Department of International Business had the pleasure of welcoming Mr. Lamech Wesonga to the course 2IB102 International Business Negotiations and Protocol with his online lecture on Business Negotiation and Protocol in the East African Region.

Mr. Lamech Wesonga is the Economic Policy Advisor, to the East African Community Secretariat (EAC) on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) under the GIZ/Germany Devt Cooperation.

The lecture aimed to prepare the students for cross-cultural differences and future business dealings with the East African region. Mr. Wesonga introduced vital aspects of the “first business meeting” protocol and highlighted other specifics of the business culture using real-life examples. Comparisons with Japanese culture were included to showcase some critical differences.

Prior to his current position, Mr. Wesonga was the Manager of 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. Among others, he contributed to the formulation of the EAC Industrialization Policy, Uganda Vision 2040. Mr. Wesonga also took 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 and development partners on Economic and Trade Policy matters within the region and beyond.

The lecture was organized for students of the course 2IB102 International Business Negotiation and Protocol, whose guarantor is Ing. Jitka Volfová, Ph.D., and which introduces students to the principles of business negotiations, to the existing social-cultural differences in the international environment and their influence on the strategy and tactics in business negotiations with foreign partners in different regions. It improves their knowledge of social etiquette and prepares students for reliable commercial and diplomatic activity at home and abroad.