Can’t Miss This! Over 600 CEOs, Ministers & Investors Set To Attend EABC 2025 Summit In Nairobi

By Frank Kamuntu

The East African region is gearing up for one of its most ambitious economic gatherings yet—The East African Business & Investment Summit & Expo 2025, slated for October 16–17, 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya. This year’s summit, under the theme “Promoting Private Sector-Driven Regional Integration for Increased Intra- and Extra-EAC Trade and Investment”, aims to position the East African Community (EAC) as Africa’s next big investment frontier.

Organized by the East African Business Council (EABC) in partnership with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU), EAC Secretariat, GIZ, EADB, ISUZU East Africa, RSM Eastern Africa, and the African Development Bank (AfDB), the event will convene over 600 top-level participants from across the continent and beyond—including investors, policymakers, business leaders, and development partners.

For some of our viewers, founded in 1997, the East African Business Council is the apex regional private sector body, advocating for private sector-driven economic integration and a borderless East Africa for trade and investment. Its vision is prosperity for all through unified markets and competitive enterprise.

Reigniting East Africa’s Economic Engine

EABC Governing Council Member, Mr. Oskar Kamukama, said the Summit tagline “EAC Rising: From Reform to Results in a Thriving Pan-African Market” reflects the urgent need to translate policy into tangible impact.

“We are no longer talking about integration. We are implementing it—together, with the private sector in the lead,” he said.

Echoing this, Annette Mutaawe Ssemuwemba, EAC Deputy Secretary General, revealed that intra-EAC trade surged from $3.4 billion in 2024 to $5.2 billion in Q1 of 2025, while trade with the rest of Africa also jumped from $6.1 billion to $9.5 billion in the same period—evidence that regional integration is yielding dividends.

This year’s Summit will take an action-driven approach, unlike traditional forums, focusing on:

• Addressing trade barriers stalling intra-African business

• Evaluating 2023 resolutions and progress

• Identifying investment-ready sectors under AfCFTA and TFTA

• Creating real-time B2B connections and deal-making opportunities

Francis Ogwang, Country Manager at East African Development Bank (EADB), reaffirmed the bank’s dedication to transforming East Africa’s economic landscape.

“From agro-industrialization to tourism and ICT, we’re here to mobilize global capital to catalyze industrial growth in the region,” he stated.

What To Expect At The Summit

The two-day Summit will feature:

• High-level policy and business dialogues

• CEO-Ministerial roundtables on trade and manufacturing

• Panel discussions on digitalization, AI, open skies, and illicit trade

• An investment expo showcasing regional innovations and transformative technologies

• B2B Matchmaking between East African businesses and their counterparts from Africa and the EU

Participants will also benefit from:

• Increased brand visibility

• Spot sales and joint venture opportunities

• Real-time networking

• Access to bankable projects and funding streams

Building on 2023’s Momentum

The 2023 Summit held in Kampala laid strong groundwork, with over 600 delegates and 100 exhibitors. Key achievements include:

• Burundi and Tanzania joining the One Network Area, reducing cross-border telecom charges

• 1,110 businesses trained on AfCFTA protocols and digital commerce

• Research on non-tariff barriers and regional trade threats conducted in partnership with Afreximbank and AGRA

• Launch of a cross-border Women & Youth Traders’ B2B WhatsApp Guide, improving informal trade

A Borderless East Africa Beckons

Mr. Adrian Raphael Naju, EABC Executive Director, emphasized that the summit takes place at a defining moment.

“The convergence of AfCFTA, digital transformation, and rising global tariff walls means we either rise together—or miss the continental train,” he warned.

This summit is not just about speeches—it’s a deal room, a networking hub, and a catalyst for economic diplomacy. It is where private sector priorities meet public sector policy, with the shared goal of making East Africa the beating heart of African trade.

Registration & Exhibition

Interested participants can register and book exhibition space at:
🔗 www.eabc-online.com/businesssummit2025

Participation Fees:

• $100 – EABC Members

• $200 – Non-Members

Exhibition Booths:

• $300 – EABC Members

• $400 – Non-Members

We Meet There!