4th March 2026
The East African Business and Investment Summit & Expo 2026 (EABIS 2026), organized by the East African Business Council in partnership with the Kenya Private Sector Alliance and the East African Community Secretariat, was held on 24–25 February 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya. Convening over 450 delegates from government, industry, finance, and development institutions, the Summit focused on advancing private sector-driven regional integration under the theme of boosting intra- and extra-EAC trade and investment.
Opening the Summit, Beatrice Askul Moe emphasized the region’s progress in expanding intra-regional trade and investment over the past two decades, while urging accelerated implementation of agreed reforms. John Lual Akol Akol noted that intra-EAC trade remains below 15 percent of total trade, far from the 40 percent target by 2030, calling for a shift from policy reform to measurable results. Jas Bedi highlighted the need to eliminate non-tariff barriers, harmonize taxes, and invest in infrastructure and digital trade systems, while Annette Ssemuwemba Mutaawe reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to accelerating implementation and strengthening public-private collaboration.
The Summit adopted wide-ranging resolutions aimed at deepening integration and competitiveness. Key priorities included full implementation of the Single Customs Territory, elimination of non-tariff barriers, harmonization of domestic taxes, and uniform application of the Common External Tariff. Delegates also called for trade in services liberalization, interoperable regional payment systems, digitalized customs procedures, air transport liberalization under the Single African Air Transport Market, and strengthened public-private partnerships to drive industrialization in strategic value chains.
Additional resolutions focused on SME financing, digital trade and e-commerce, harmonized standards and mutual recognition agreements, digital tax stamp reforms, and unlocking private capital for green logistics. The Summit concluded with a call for accelerated domestication of regional and continental commitments, improved infrastructure and energy reliability, and enhanced digital trade facilitation systems. Delegates urged EAC Partner States to translate dialogue into concrete action to achieve a more integrated, competitive, and investment-ready East African region.