Nairobi, Kenya Thursday, 27th March 2025 – The East African Business Council (EABC) held its first Governing Council Meeting on 26th March 2025, and reviewed the progress of EABC Secretariat programs and activities undertaken in the first quarter of 2025 and provided strategic guidance on the implementation of the EABC Strategic Plan 2025-2027, themed Elevating East African Businesses: Unlocking Potential for Regional, Continental, and Global Competitiveness.
The plan is built on four strategic pillars:
- A strong focus on member engagement and value creation,
- Intensifying evidence-based advocacy actions,
- Enhancing operational effectiveness, and
- Driving long-term sustainability initiatives.
The four pillars are further supported by cross-cutting priorities, including communication and publicity, SMEs, youth, women, and partnerships.
In his official remarks, Hon. John Lual Akol Akol, EABC Chairperson stated that the Governing Council is committed to championing the realization of a borderless East Africa to enhance business and investment, ultimately driving social and economic prosperity.
The Governing Council tasked the EABC Secretariat to accelerate advocacy efforts to eliminate barriers to intra-EAC and Africa trade and investment, particularly in light of de-globalization, protectionism and the need for reciprocity trade arrangements. The Governing Council endorsed formations of Committee on Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) and EABC sectoral working groups on Trade in Services, Manufacturing, Agriculture, and SMEs to handle diversity and make EABC more inclusive.
The Governing Council commended the EABC Secretariat for its advocacy efforts and for organizing: CEO Round Tables on Economic Outlook in EAC, consultative meetings on the Trade in Services Policy Advocacy Agenda under the GIZ EU LIFTED Project, as well as Public-Private Dialogues (PPDs) on Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and the EAC Simplified Trade Regime. The PPDs organized in partnership with AGRA convened border facilitation agencies and cross-border traders at the Taveta/Holili, Nimule/Elegu, and Busia One-Stop Border Posts.
Additionally, the Governing Council signed the amendments to the EABC MEMARTS, which were duly passed during the 23rd Annual General Meeting in December 2024, and endorsed the Annual Work Plan and Budget for 2025.
The Governing Council expressed appreciation to all EABC members and Elite Members, including Coca-Cola Africa, Equity Bank, Group EIS EKA, and Gatsby Africa, for their continued membership, as well as to ITC, AGRA, GIZ, and AfDB for their ongoing partnership projects with EABC.
