East Africa aligns capital investment with Vision 2050 Goals

ARUSHA: Regional public and private sector leaders are calling for deeper collaboration to align domestic capital with East Africa’s long-term development priorities, recognising the strong foundations already laid by governments across the region.

The call came during the East Africa Institutional Investors Forum, held in Arusha from 22 to 23 July.

The forum brought together regulators, pension funds, development financiers, commercial banks, and key ministries from Tanzania, Kenya, and Uganda to explore how regional capital can play a greater role in funding infrastructure.

Jointly hosted by Stanbic Bank Tanzania, Stanbic Bank Kenya, and Stanbic Bank Uganda, the forum focused on how to complement and accelerate national development efforts such as Tanzania’s Vision 2050 and regional strategies under the EAC Vision 2050.

Discussions highlighted the opportunity to leverage long-term savings held by pension funds and institutional investors to support projects in energy, housing, water, transport, and digital connectivity.

“There is a growing alignment between public sector development goals and private sector capital flows,” Executive Vice President for Energy and Infrastructure at Stanbic Bank Tanzania, Aboubakar Massinda said.

“This forum reflects our shared commitment to working in partnership with governments to deliver inclusive, sustainable infrastructure across the region.” Speaking at the opening, Benedict Nkini, Vice President for Financial Institutions at Stanbic Bank Tanzania, emphasised the bank’s long-standing cooperation with government institutions.

“For over thirty years, we have worked side by side with public and private stakeholders in Tanzania to structure investment solutions that deliver. We are now extending that collaborative spirit to the wider region.” Participants welcomed the progress made by governments to strengthen public investment systems, deepen capital markets, and create enabling environments for public-private partnerships.

Aime Uwase, Director of Planning at the East African Community (EAC), said the forum was well-aligned with ongoing regional integration efforts.

“The EAC Vision 2050 recognises infrastructure as a key driver of growth, and this platform demonstrates the collective will to mobilise capital through joint action,” Uwase said.

Panel discussions reflected a consensus that sustainable financing of infrastructure must balance national policy leadership with the participation of institutional capital.

While estimates place East Africa’s infrastructure financing needs at over 42 billion US dollars, stakeholders noted that ongoing reforms have created a solid base to attract long-term investment.

Githuku Mwangi, Transaction Advisor at CPF Capital and Advisory Services, praised the forum as a space for building shared understanding.

“What we see here is not a critique, but an opportunity. East African economies have come far. Now it is about strengthening the collaboration between banks, fund managers, and policymakers to ensure that all parts of the financial ecosystem work together.”

The forum highlighted the importance of clear processes, capacity building, and continued regulatory dialogue.

Development finance institutions present at the forum expressed willingness to provide concessional finance and technical assistance — not to replace government efforts, but to support their effective implementation.

With Tanzania actively pursuing inclusive and sustainable infrastructure through Vision 2050, the forum’s message was one of support and strategic partnership.

Stanbic Bank, which was recently named Best Investment Bank in Tanzania by Euromoney, reaffirmed its commitment to serving as a bridge between national priorities and private sector capacity. “This forum is just the beginning,” organisers said.

“The region has the vision, the institutions, and the resolve. Our role is to listen, align, and support that momentum.”