On 5th August the EAC reiterated its commitment to strengthening public-private partnerships to unlock the region’s trade and investment potential. The Chief Guest of the EABC CEOs–Trade & Investment Roundtable Tanzania Edition, H.E. Amb. Stephen P. Mbundi, Secretary General of the East African Community (EAC), has urged the private sector to expand trade operations and investments across the region to boost job creation and prosperity.
H.E. Amb. Mbundi lauded the East Africa CEO and Investment Forum 2026, scheduled for 17 to 18 September 2026 in Nairobi, as a platform to champion East Africa as one of the most ideal investment destinations on the continent. He applauded the strong commitment and vision of the EAC Heads of State to increase intra-EAC trade to 50% by 2030.
In 2025, intra-EAC trade stood at US$19.7 billion, compared to US$137 billion in trade with the rest of the world, highlighting the significant opportunity to deepen regional trade and integration. (Source: EAC Trade Portal Annual Trade Statistics 2025.) Amb. Mbundi also called upon the private sector to fully utilise the Single Customs Territory to enhance border efficiency and facilitate seamless movement of goods across the region.
"Our priority as the EAC Secretariat is to implement the vision and commitment of increasing intra-EAC trade. This must become the benchmark against which every policy, partnership and reform is measured. Achieving this target will require genuine collaboration between governments and the private sector," said H.E. Amb. Stephen P. Mbundi.
In his remarks, Mr Ahmed Farah, Executive Director of EABC, stated: "Regional integration must be built with business, not simply for business. The private sector must be at the centre of shaping policies that make East Africa more competitive and investment-ready."
He emphasised that a strong regional market creates resilience to compete globally and called for the elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), addressing uneven implementation of the Common External Tariff (CET), divergent tax regimes, and high transport and logistics costs.
On his part, Mr Maximilian Müller, Deputy Head of Mission at the German Embassy in the United Republic of Tanzania stated: "A larger, more predictable and better-connected East African market creates opportunities not only for the region but also for responsible international investment and stronger economic partnerships. Germany is committed to supporting platforms that connect governments, investors and businesses to turn opportunities into concrete investments and jobs."
He noted that the dialogue also marks the beginning of a broader journey through the Invest.EastAfrica! platform. Following the successful inaugural forum, the initiative is being expanded through national sector-specific editions starting this September across East Africa, culminating in the next Invest.EastAfrica! Forum in Germany.
Mr Stephen Wambura, Country Manager, East African Development Bank (EADB), noted: "The East African Development Bank is committed to financing the businesses that will drive regional integration, industrialisation and sustainable economic growth across the East African Community." He added that EADB is proud to co-convene the upcoming East Africa CEO and Investment Forum 2026 with EABC.
The EABC CEOs–Trade & Investment Roundtable brought together over 70 government leaders, business executives, private sector associations and development partners to discuss strategies for enhancing East Africa’s competitiveness in intra- and extra-EAC trade and investment. The Roundtable featured presentations on Tanzania’s Investment Opportunities and Incentive Regime by Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA) and the Tanzania Economic Outlook by PwC, providing insights into economic trends, trade prospects and investment opportunities.
The Roundtable discussions and proposals will inform the development of the EAC Trade and Investment Climate Report, which will be launched during the East Africa CEO and Investment Forum in September 2026.
About the Upcoming EABC East Africa CEO & Investment Forum – September 2026
The EABC East Africa CEO & Investment Forum 2026 will take place on 17 and 18 September 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. The Forum is a CEO-led, results-oriented platform designed to shape East Africa’s trade, investment and competitiveness agenda while catalysing strategic partnerships and investment deals. It positions the private sector at the centre of regional integration and sustainable economic growth.
The Forum will convene over 500 high-level participants, including regional and international CEOs, institutional and private investors, development finance institutions, Partner States’ Investment Promotion Agencies, policymakers, and development partners from across Africa and beyond. The Forum will focus on investment conversion, deals and commitments, featuring structured Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) matchmaking sessions centred on investment-ready opportunities across East Africa.
The Forum will also host a special delegation of 50 investors from the European Union, led by Mr Manfred Pentz, State Minister for Federal, European and International Affairs and Bureaucracy Reduction of the State of Hesse, Germany. The Forum is organised with the support of the German Development Cooperation, TradeMark Africa, the European Union, the International Trade Centre, the East African Development Bank (EADB), and the African Development Bank (AfDB). Register here.