EABC urges East Africa to unite markets
NAIROBI: EAST Africa needs to operate as one investment ecosystem rather than competing national markets, East Africa Business Council (EABC) Vice Chairperson, Jas Bedi said during the inaugural East Africa CEO & Investment Forum 2026 in Nairobi.
Mr Bedi urged EAC Partner States to deepen integration, leverage their respective strengths and build cross border value chains to boost regional competitiveness and attract investment.
He also called for greater predictability in the regional trade framework, including clarity on the Common External Tariff and stays of application, which affect investment planning and regional sourcing decisions.
“Call for stronger implementation of regional integration commitments, improved investment conditions and greater access to finance,” he said.
EABC Executive Director Ahmed Farah said the real test of regional integration was whether businesses can operate across borders more efficiently, predictably and at lower cost.
“The purpose of this Forum is to turn regional integration into engines of business growth and investment. East Africa has a large and growing market, but that market only matters if businesses can actually use it,” Mr Farah said.
He said EABC was working towards a borderless East Africa for trade and investment, with greater emphasis on evidence-led advocacy, regional value-chain development, trade facilitation and investment mobilisation.
EAC Secretary General Ambassador Stephen Mbundi said the region recorded average economic growth of 5.3 per cent over the past decade, with the next priority being to convert that growth into greater trade, investment and industrialisation.
The EAC is targeting an increase in intra-EAC trade from 22.8 per cent to at least 50 per cent over the next five years.
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“We must move decisively from volumes to value,” Mr Mbundi said, calling for stronger regional value chains that enable Partner States to source, process and manufacture across borders.
East Africa Development Bank (EADB) Acting Director General, Benard Mono said investment opportunities require adequate capital to become productive projects.
“Without adequate capital, investment opportunities remain just opportunities,” Mr Mono said.
Discussions covered agribusiness, manufacturing, digital economy, telecommunications, fintech, transport, logistics, energy, mining and critical raw materials.
Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary Beatrice Moe called for stronger implementation of regional integration commitments to create predictable and competitive conditions for businesses and investors.
She highlighted opportunities under the EAC common market and AfCFTA, while calling for action on non-tariff barriers, tax constraints and delays in implementing regional measures.
