31st March -1st April 2026: Kigali, Rwanda: The East African Business Council (EABC), led by Executive Director Mr. Ahmed Farah, took part in the 4th East African Community (EAC) Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Conference held under the theme “Harnessing Artificial Intelligence for a Resilient, Inclusive and Innovative East Africa.”
In his keynote address during the session “Digital Leaders Forum on Artificial Intelligence,” Mr. Farah emphasized that Artificial Intelligence (AI) must be treated as economic infrastructure that addresses real business losses and public-sector inefficiencies, such as water losses, port delays, and post-harvest waste. He stressed that unlocking Artificial Intelligence’s full potential requires urgent and deeper private sector involvement.
He elaborated that the East African Community must position itself as one integrated market rather than fragmented economies. A unified regional approach creates the scale, confidence, and bankability needed to attract investment.
He outlined that for AI to be bankable, it must:
- Solve real, measurable problems
- Have a paying customer or committed budget
- Operate within a predictable policy and regulatory environment
- Be scalable across multiple markets
He further highlighted that regional collaboration is East Africa’s strategic advantage, noting that shared infrastructure, interoperable systems, and aggregated demand are critical to making AI investments viable.
He also called for building regional AI infrastructure, creating anchor demand, aligning regulation with operations, investing in skills, and structuring smart financing mechanisms to move AI projects from concept to execution.
The 4th EAC Regional Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) Conference brought together over 450 delegates from all eight EAC Partner States, including policymakers, researchers, innovators, and industry leaders. Watch Event Video
Key event highlights included the launch of the EAC AI Alliance and its flagship Regional AI Network in Education and Research, aimed at unifying national AI efforts, strengthening cross-border research, and promoting inclusive AI education. Universities across the EAC are invited to become national nodes within the network, anchoring AI research ecosystems and developing a future-ready workforce.
The Conference also featured the Digital Leaders Forum on AI, focusing on regional AI strategy, governance, and policy alignment, as well as the AI4EAC Innovation Challenge, which showcased student-led solutions in healthcare, agriculture, climate resilience, financial inclusion, and public service delivery. Read More Download EAC Declaration on Artificial Intelligence.
