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The call was made during the EABC CEO Trade and Investment Roundtable held in Dar es Salaam on 5th August, 2026 under the theme “Enhancing Competitiveness in the EAC to Boost Intra and Extra-EAC Trade and Investment.” The forum brought together business leaders, policymakers and stakeholders to deliberate on practical solutions for strengthening East Africa’s competitiveness and expanding trade opportunities.
The EAC Secretary General, Hon. Amb. Stephen P. Mbundi, underscored the central role of the private sector in driving the region’s economic transformation and deepening regional integration.
He noted that while the EAC has grown into one of Africa’s largest integrated markets, with a population of more than 331 million people and a combined Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of approximately US$357 billion, intra-EAC trade remains below its full potential.
According to EAC trade statistics for 2025, the Community recorded total trade of US$156.7 billion, comprising US$137 billion in trade with the rest of the world and US$19.7 billion in trade among EAC Partner States. The Secretary General noted that these figures highlight significant untapped opportunities within the regional market.
He attributed the low levels of intra-EAC trade to persistent non-tariff barriers, regulatory inconsistencies, infrastructure bottlenecks and limited access to finance, particularly for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
“Expanding intra-EAC trade remains one of the Community’s foremost priorities,” the Secretary General said, recalling the EAC’s ambition to increase the share of intra-regional trade to 50 percent by 2030.
He emphasised that achieving this target requires stronger partnerships between governments, regional institutions and the private sector, alongside sustained implementation of regional commitments.
He called on business leaders to develop practical, innovative and measurable solutions that strengthen regional value chains, attract investment, enhance the competitiveness of East African enterprises and improve the overall business environment.
The Secretary General further announced that recommendations emerging from the Roundtable will inform the Annual EAC Trade and Investment Climate Report, which will be launched during the forthcoming EAC Investment Forum in September 2026. The report will provide further insights into improving the region’s investment climate and strengthening private sector participation in regional economic development.
Looking ahead, Amb. Mbundi emphasised the importance of harnessing East Africa’s demographic dividend by investing in the region’s youthful population, which accounts for more than 75 percent of its people. He called for increased investment in skills development, innovation, entrepreneurship, digital transformation and access to finance to position East Africa as a globally competitive manufacturing, services and investment destination.
In concluding his remarks, the Secretary General reaffirmed the EAC Secretariat’s commitment to working closely with Partner States, the private sector and other stakeholders to deepen regional integration through the free movement of goods, services, labour and capital, the removal of barriers to trade and the implementation of policies that promote a competitive and integrated regional economy.
He challenged participants to move beyond identifying constraints and focus on actionable recommendations that will help bridge the gap towards achieving the Community’s 2030 intra-EAC trade target.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of East African Community (EAC).
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