EAC to host major trade, investment summit in 2025
ARUSHA: THE East African Community is stepping up initiatives to position itself as a premier destination for trade and investment, while giving businesses the tools and networks they need to thrive in a changing global economy.
The region will host East African Trade and Investment Summit and Expo 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya in October, which will be more than just an event but also act as a catalyst for regional growth, integration and transformation.
It is organised by the East African Business Council (EABC), in partnership with the East African Community (EAC), GIZ, the African Development Bank (AfDB), East African Development Bank (EADB), Isuzu East Africa and RSM Eastern Africa.
Speaking to the media at the EABC headquarters in Arusha yesterday, EABC Acting Executive Director Mr Adrian Njau announced that the summit will take place from October 16–17, this year, under the theme: “Promoting Private SectorDriven Regional Integration for Increased Intra- and Extra-EAC Trade and Investment.”
Mr Njau said that the event will bring together more than 600 participants, including high-level policymakers, industry leaders, investors and development partners from across East Africa, the African continent and internationally.
“The summit aims to strengthen trade and investment ties and shape the East African economic agenda,” said Mr Njau.
He added that the event will feature business matchmaking opportunities between East African firms and counterparts from across Africa and the European Union. This will be facilitated in collaboration with the Pan African Chambers of Commerce, Afrika Verein and the European Business Council for Africa.
“We encourage government and business leaders to register and exhibit through our website,” he said. “Exhibitors will benefit from showcasing their products and services, expanding networks and visibility, generating spot sales and identifying new business partners and joint ventures.”
On the strategic timing of the 2025 summit, Mr Njau noted that it comes amid major global and continental shifts, including the continued operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the implementation of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA) and emerging global trends such as climate change, digital transformation and deglobalisation.
“This summit will explore how East Africa can leverage these developments to position the EAC as Africa’s leading trade and investment hub,” he noted.
According to Mr Njau, resolutions from the summit will be formally presented by the EABC Chairperson to the Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers. The objective is to influence regional policy reforms that enhance the overall business and investment climate across the EAC region.
This summit is set to be a landmark event with wideranging implications for the East African region.
The summit will promote private sector-driven integration, a long-standing goal of the EAC. By facilitating dialogue and partnerships between businesses across partner states, it will help break down trade barriers, harmonise policies, and increase the flow of goods and services within the region.
