The East African Business Council (EABC), in collaboration with the East African Development Bank (EADB), is set to host the East African Business & Investment Summit & Expo 2025 in Nairobi, Kenya.
The highly anticipated summit is themed “Promoting Private Sector-Driven Regional Integration for Increased Intra- and Extra-EAC Trade and Investment,” with the rallying call “EAC Rising: From Reform to Results in a Thriving Pan-African Market.”
Adrian Raphael Njau, Acting Executive Director of the EABC, made the remarks today during a press conference in Kampala, emphasising the strategic importance of the event in fostering economic transformation across the region.
“We are honoured to partner with the East African Development Bank for the 2025 East African Business and Investment Summit & Expo. EADB’s support reflects its strong commitment to regional integration and sustainable, private sector-driven growth,” Njau said.
“This Summit is not just another conference it’s a results-driven platform to shape policy, connect businesses, and accelerate trade and investment ties across the EAC, the continent, and beyond.”
The 2025 Summit comes at a moment, with sweeping changes transforming Africa’s trade and investment landscape. Key developments include the continued operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the rollout of the Tripartite Free Trade Area (TFTA), and pressing global shifts such as climate change, digital transformation, and globalisation.
In light of these changes, the Summit will spotlight how the East African Community (EAC) can position itself as the continent’s premier investment destination.
However, as the region celebrates progress, non-tariff barriers (NTBs) remain a significant obstacle to trade.
According to Ms. Annet Mutaawe Ssemuwemba, Deputy Secretary General of the EAC, NTBs ranging from infrastructure bottlenecks to policy misinterpretations continue to hamper the smooth movement of goods and services across borders.
“The main challenge facing our region is the persistence of non-tariff barriers,” she said.
“These include infrastructure deficiencies that slow down cross-border trade, and confusion around the interpretation of technical trade instruments. One of the strongest tools we have is communication and awareness. Many traders, especially at the grassroots, lack access to clear, understandable information.”
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She noted that the EAC has stepped up capacity building with customs and revenue authorities, and is making efforts to localise trade information in languages familiar to border communities.
“We have gone as far as translating trade information into local languages to support small cross-border traders, especially women,” she added.
Technology is also proving to be a game-changer.
“We’re rolling out digital tools to track and resolve NTBs faster, and improving clearance processes at ports and borders,” said Ms. Ssemuwemba.
“Five years ago, transporting goods from Mombasa to Rwanda could take over 30 days. Today, it takes as few as four thanks to regional collaboration and innovation.”
A recent milestone in this effort is the launch of the EAC Regional Bond a single bond mechanism that allows goods to move across multiple borders without requiring multiple guarantees.
“It replaces multiple bonds with a single regional one, valid from port to inland destination. This not only speeds up trade but reduces costs significantly,” she said.
With these initiatives gaining traction, the 2025 Business and Investment Summit is poised to become a cornerstone event in reshaping East Africa’s economic future.
As stakeholders from across the continent and beyond gather in Nairobi, the spotlight will be on turning reform into real, measurable results.
