Tanzania strikes gold at 25th EAC Exhibition

NAIROBI: TANZANIA has claimed the top honour at the 25th East African Community (EAC) “Jua Kali” Small and Medium Entrepreneurs Exhibition after KAYPEE Motors, a local vehicle manufacturing firm, won the Best Exhibitor award for environmental sustainability.

The announcement was made in Nairobi by Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Industry and Trade, Wycliffe Oparanya, during the closing ceremony of the regional showcase, which drew more than 3,000 entrepreneurs from the eight EAC member states.

The annual exhibition, first introduced in 1999, serves as a platform for small and medium enterprises to display innovation, build networks, and expand markets across the region. It also aims to deepen economic ties and support industrial growth within the EAC bloc.

Oparanya called on member states to intensify investment in the sector, saying greater financial support would help entrepreneurs develop competitive products for regional and global markets.

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He urged governments to prioritise the use of information and communication technologies to widen access to business information and support cross-border trade.

Tanzania’s victory was further underscored by KAYPEE Motors’ impressive performance in the marketplace.

The firm secured two vehicle orders from Kenya’s President, Dr. William Ruto, in addition to six more purchases from Kenyan customers.

The recognition marks a significant milestone for Tanzania’s manufacturing sector and highlights the growing confidence in locally engineered products within the regional market.