More than 500 chief executives, senior government officials and global investors will gather in Nairobi on September 17 and 18 for the inaugural East Africa CEO and Investment Forum as East Africa seeks to attract fresh investment, address financing gaps and boost regional trade.
The forum, co-hosted by the East African Development Bank (EADB) and the East African Business Council (EABC), will bring together leaders from the public and private sectors, development finance institutions, investment promotion agencies and development partners.
A European Union delegation of more than 50 investors, including German business leaders, is expected to attend the meeting, which will focus on investment opportunities, trade competitiveness and regional economic integration.
EABC Executive Director Ahmed Farah said East Africa remains Africa’s fastest-growing economic bloc, expanding at 5.6 per cent annually, and continues to attract interest from investors seeking opportunities across the region.
“The inaugural East Africa CEO and Investment Forum will position the private sector at the centre of this growth trajectory and create a dialogue platform for regional and international CEOs, private investors, development finance institutions, Investment Promotion Agencies, policymakers, and development partners,” he added.
East Africa CEO and Investment Forum Focus
A key highlight of the forum will be the launch of the inaugural EAC Trade and Investment Climate Report 2026, which will outline reforms needed to improve the business environment and strengthen the region’s competitiveness.
Discussions are expected to focus on measures required to increase investment, improve cross-border trade and address barriers affecting businesses operating across the eight EAC partner states.
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EADB Acting Director General Benard Mono said the lender will use the forum to help bridge financing gaps that continue to slow investment in the region.
“As East Africa’s own development finance institution, EADB is proud to co-convene this forum alongside EABC. Our role is to close the financing gap for bankable projects and investment-ready opportunities while promoting sustainable socio-economic development and regional integration,” said Mono.
The forum comes as East Africa seeks to take advantage of a common market of more than 300 million consumers and opportunities created by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which gives businesses access to markets across the continent.
Ahead of the event, EABC and EADB held CEO roundtable meetings in Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda and Tanzania between July and August.
The meetings brought together business and government leaders who called for the removal of outstanding non-tariff barriers, compensation for businesses affected by unjustified trade disruptions and harmonised standards, licences and professional qualifications across the region.
Leaders, Investors Expected
Among leaders expected at the forum are Uganda’s First Deputy Prime Minister and Chairperson of the EAC Council of Ministers Rebecca Alitwala Kadaga, EAC Secretary General Stephen Mbundi and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for East African Community, ASALs and Regional Development Beatrice Askul Moe.
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Germany’s State Minister for Federal, European and International Affairs and Bureaucracy Reduction Manfred Pentz will also attend with a delegation of 50 German investors.
EABC and EADB said 20 members of the German delegation previously participated in the German-East African Business and Investment Forum held in Frankfurt and Berlin in January and are returning to pursue investment opportunities and advance ongoing business deals.
The investors are expected to explore opportunities in artificial intelligence, the digital economy, agribusiness, tourism, logistics, healthcare, critical raw materials and carbon credits.
The first day of the forum will focus on East Africa’s trade and investment agenda and policy recommendations to improve business competitiveness and attract investors.
The second day will shift to business-to-business and business-to-government matchmaking sessions involving investment-ready opportunities from across the region.
EABC and EADB expect the East Africa CEO and Investment Forum to culminate in the signing of partnerships, memoranda of understanding and commercial and investment cooperation agreements as governments, investors and businesses seek to deepen economic ties and unlock new opportunities across East Africa.
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