East Africa CEOs Make a Strong Case for Regional Integration

Senior government officials, business leaders, investors, development finance institutions and international partners at the inaugural East Africa CEO & Investment Forum 2026 in Nairobi have called for faster implementation of regional integration commitments to translate East Africa’s economic potential into investment, trade and jobs.

The two-day Forum, taking place on 17–18 September 2026, aims to advance East Africa’s trade, investment and competitiveness agenda. The Forum is convened by the East African Business Council (EABC) together with the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat and the East African Development Bank (EADB), in partnership with GIZ, AGRA, African Development Bank (AfDB), Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), Rwanda Development Board (RDB), Coca-Cola Beverages Africa, CRDB Bank, Safal Group, ISUZU East Africa and other strategic partners.

The EAC Trade and Investment Climate Report 2026 and the East Africa Investment Projects Catalogue were officially launched during the Forum, providing an evidence base for regional reforms and a pipeline of investment opportunities.

Speaking during the official opening, the Chief Guest, Hon. Beatrice Askul Moe, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of East African Community, ASALs and Regional Development, Republic of Kenya, emphasised the importance of translating regional integration commitments into predictable and competitive conditions for businesses and investors.

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She highlighted the opportunities presented by the EAC Common Market and AfCFTA, while underscoring the need to address implementation challenges affecting businesses, including non-tariff barriers, tax-related constraints and delays in implementing agreed regional measures.

She explained the nexus between the digital economy, manufacturing, transport and logistics, and energy in strengthening regional value addition and employment.

In his speech, H.E. Amb. Stephen P. Mbundi, EAC Secretary General, said the EAC has recorded strong macroeconomic growth, averaging 5.3% over the past decade, but the region must now translate this growth into greater trade, investment and industrialisation. He noted that the EAC aims to increase intra-EAC trade from 22.8% to at least 50% over the next five years, requiring stronger implementation of regional integration commitments and a more predictable business environment.O

“We must move decisively from volumes to value. Manufactured goods account for less than 30% of EAC exports, while raw agricultural commodities continue to dominate our export basket. We need stronger regional value chains that enable Partner States to source, process and manufacture across borders, keeping more value within East Africa.”

Mbundi also highlighted persistent barriers to regional trade, noting that the EAC has resolved more than 300 non-tariff barriers since 2007, while challenges in infrastructure, transport and logistics, ICT and access to finance continue to affect competitiveness. He said addressing these constraints could boost trade competitiveness by 52% and increase trade by US$63.4 billion, while stronger services trade, youth skills and industrial finance would further support regional economic transformation.

Hon. Amb. Gamal Mohamed, Minister for Commerce and Industry of the Federal Republic of Somalia and Chair of the Inaugural HoAI Trade Ministers’ Meeting, emphasised the importance of connecting promising investment opportunities with capital, businesses and government facilitation.

He highlighted opportunities in the Federal Republic of Somalia in agriculture, fisheries, livestock, energy, minerals, ports and logistics, as well as the country’s strategic position linking East Africa with Gulf, Middle Eastern and Asian markets.

Discussions also focused on improving market access for Special Economic Zones, reducing border licensing, standards and product registration bottlenecks

He also underscored the importance of efficient transport systems, regional payment mechanisms and predictable cross-border procedures in making integration meaningful for businesses.

In his remarks, Mr. Ahmed Farah, Executive Director of the East African Business Council (EABC), said the real measure of regional integration is 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.”

Discussions also focused on improving market access for Special Economic Zones, reducing border licensing, standards and product registration bottlenecks, expanding SME access to finance and risk-sharing mechanisms, and improving project bankability and investor-financier linkages. Panelists emphasised that regional integration should be measured by tangible outcomes, including increased investment, trade, exports, business expansion and job creation.

The Forum also witnessed the launch of the East African Science and Technology Commission (EASTECO)–Hessen cooperation through the EAC AI Alliance, a partnership that connects East Africa’s AI ecosystem with Hessen, “Europe’s Silicon Valley,” to advance practical AI cooperation and unlock new opportunities in skills development, innovation and business.