East African Business and Investment Summit & Expo 2025

TIME ACTIVITY
8:00 AM – 8:30 AM Accreditation & Registration + Cultural Performance

Moderator – Mr. Philip Wambugu
Short video from partners & sponsors
8:30 AM-9:00AM • Recap
9:00 – 9:30 AM Insight Exchange

• Digitalization and Artificial Intelligence –by Mr. David Roos, Head of Project, East African Digital Skills, AI Research, and Innovation Alliance GIZ
Q&A
Moderator – Mr. Philip Wambugu
9:30 AM- 10:40AM Topic: Open Skies: Advancing Air Transport Liberalization for a Borderless Africa
Keynote Presentation: Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) by Mr. Getachew ALEMAYEHU, Director of Air transport, African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC)
Panelists
• Dr. A. Korir Sing’Oei Ph.D., EBS Principal Secretary, State Department for Foreign Affairs
• Eng. Robert Achieng, Director of Infrastructure, EAC Secretariat
• Ms. Brenda Ntihinyurwa, Head of Legal, East African Community Civil Aviation Safety and Security Oversight Agency (EAC-CASSOA)
• Eng. Liz Aluvanze – CEO Kenya Association of Air Operators (KAAO)
• Mr. Allan Kilavuka, CEO KQ
• Ms. Jenifer Bamaturaki, CEO Uganda Airlines
• Mr. Emmanuel BUTERA, Consumer Protection Expert, African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC)
Moderator: Capt. Gilbert Kibe, Ambassador of SAATM & Former Director General of KCAA
10:40 AM -11:00 AM Tea Break
11:00 AM – 11:50 PM Topic: Leveraging Regional and Continental Integration
Keynote Presentation: AfCFTA Investment Protocol and the WTO’s Investment Facilitation Agreement – Giles Chappell, International Trade Centre (ITC)

Panelists: –

• Mr. Oscar Kamukama, Senior Business Development Manager, Steel & Tube Industries Ltd & EABC Governing Council Member
• Ms. Linda Kaneza, SAVONOR, EABC Governing Council Member
• Ms. Flavia Businge, EAC Director of Customs and Acting Director of Trade
• Hon. Abisai, Nancy K. L, Former Member of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)
• Mr. Mishael M. Wambua, Component Lead, AfCFTA Kenya Component, GIZ
• Mr. Benedict Musengele, Director, Trade & Customs, TradeMark Africa.

Moderator: Mr. Simon Kaheru, EABC Vice Chair – Uganda

Break Out Sessions
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Break Out Session: Anti-Illicit Trade: Boosting Revenue & Trade Integrity
Keynote Presentation: Digital Solutions to counter illicit trade – Ms. Zipporah Kuria, Fiscal Affairs Manager, British American Tobacco (BAT)

Panelists: –

• Ms. Zipporah Kuria, Fiscal Affairs Manager
• British American Tobacco (BAT)
• Ms. Neema Temba, Legal & Corporate Affairs Director, Tanzania Breweries
• Mr. Erick Sirali, Digital Trade Systems Director, TradeMark Africa
• Dr. Juma Mukhwana, CBS, Principal Secretary for the State Department of Industry in the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry
• Ms. Stellah Onyancha, Acting Registrar, East African Community Competition Authority.
• Mr. Okoyo Alfred Customs Uganda Revenue Authority (URA)
• Dr. Robi Mbugua Njoroge – Executive Director / CEO, Anti-Counterfeit Authority (ACA) Kenya
• Mr. Humphrey Wattanga Commissioner General, Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA)

Moderator: Ms. Miriam Bomett, Head of Policy and Regulatory Advocacy, Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM)
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Break Out Session: Unlocking SME Growth: Access to Finance and Mentorship for Africa’s Emerging Enterprises

Presentation of Access to Finance for SMEs by Cecilia Wangui, General Manager SME Banking, Equity Bank (Kenya) Ltd

Panelists
• Equity SME beneficiary
• Ms. Anataria Uwamariya, Director, Business Competitiveness, TradeMark Africa
• East African Development Bank (EADB)
• Ms. Mercy Mutua, Head, Access to Finance, in the Agrifoods and Entrepreneurship Development, Master Card Foundation
• Mrs. Nancy Gitonga
• Mrs. Mary Ngechu, EABC SMEs Goodwill Ambassador

ITC SMEs Deal Book Pitching (TBC)

Moderator: Joseph Kimotho, Equity Foundation

11:00 AM – 1:30 PM Break Out Session: Fast-Tracking Industrialisation and Financing in the EAC Footwear and Leather Sector
• Remarks: Deputy Secretary General (Customs, Trade and Monetary Affairs), EAC
• Panelists
o Mr. Brent Malahay, Chief Strategy Officer, Equity Group Holdings PLC
o Mrs. Beatrice Mwasi, Chairperson, Leather Apex Society of Kenya
o Mr. Sam Muhinda, Sector Lead Analyst, Rwanda Development Board (RDB)
o Mr. John Mwendwa, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest)
o Mr. Ahmad Raza, Chief Operating Officer, ACE Leather
Panel Moderator: Mrs. Angela Becaty, Regional Coordinator, ITC EU–EAC MARKUP II Supported by: EU–EAC MARKUP II
Group Discussion and brief plenary session – Moderator – Dr. Abdel Rahim Ahmed, Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI)
Closing Remarks and next steps – EAC Secretariat
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Breakout Session: Strengthening Digital Trade / E-Commerce in the EAC
Theme: “Unlocking the Potential of Digital Trade in the EAC: Opportunities for Private Sector Growth”
Panelists:
• Representative, Ministry of Trade, Kenya
• Mr. Sammy Mulanga – E-Commerce Expert, East African Community
• Mr. Kenneth Muhangi – Alliance for Digital, E-mobility & Couriers Uganda
• Mr. Vinod Goel – CEO, Jumia East Africa
• Paul Makolosi – Managing Director, DHL Kenya
Moderator:
• Ms. Dorice Mwalle – MAMA MIA Soko Tanzania
Keynote Presentation:
“Building a Resilient E-Commerce Ecosystem in East Africa” – Martin Muli
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Breakout Session: Mutual Recognition Agreements for Engineers
Panelists:
• Prof. Venansius Baryamureeba- Chair Uganda Tech and Management University
• Dr. Richard Ssekibuule- Kola Technologies Uganda
• Dr. Dorcas Omukhulu- Ag. Director Social Sectors, EAC
• [To be confirmed] – Representative from EABC (Policy Recommendations)
Moderator: Ephraim Kenyanito, MRA Policy Advisor, GIZ-EAC

Participants expected will also include:
1. Representatives of Chair of Engineering Professional Associations in all 8 EAC countries
2. Representatives of Engineers Registrars in all 8 EAC countries
3. Ministries of MEACA, Labour, Immigration and Trade from Kenya.
1:30 PM-2:30PM Networking Lunch

2:30PM -3:00PM Fire Side Chat
• Climate Finance – Driving Sustainability & Green Trade: Embracing the Circular Economy for a Resilient Future –by Ms. Trizer Omugar, Green Trade, TradeMark Africa
• Climate Finance – Sustainable Inclusive Business –Mr. Darshan Dhakan, Senior Portfolio Manager, Grassroots Business Fund
Moderator – Mr. Philip Wambugu
3:00 PM -4:00 PM Official Closing Ceremony
Plenary
• Presentation of the Business Summit Resolutions by Mr. Adrian Raphael Njau, Ag. Executive Director, EABC
• Reflections by Permanent Secretaries
• Handover of Communiqué of Business Summit Resolutions to the Chairperson of EAC Council of Ministers
Moderator – Mr. Philip Wambugu
4:00 PM -4:20 PM Vote of Thanks:
● Mr. Muhoho Kenyatta, EABC Governing Council Member
● EAC Secretariat