Kigali, Rwanda, Wednesday, 2nd September 2026: East African business leaders have called for stronger implementation of regional integration commitments to reduce the cost of doing business, improve market access and unlock greater trade and investment opportunities across the East African Community (EAC).
The call was made at the EABC CEOs’ Trade and Investment Roundtable convened by the East African Business Council (EABC) in collaboration with the Private Sector Federation of Rwanda (PSF-Rwanda), the EAC Secretariat, GIZ and the East African Development Bank (EADB), bringing together senior government officials, private-sector leaders, development partners, financial institutions and heads of sectoral associations
In her official opening remarks, Ms. Chantal Tuyishimire, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM), Rwanda underscored the importance of continued collaboration between government and the private sector in addressing barriers to trade and investment. She emphasised the need to strengthen Rwanda’s competitiveness within the EAC and wider African market and to ensure that regional integration translates into tangible opportunities for businesses and investors.
On behalf of EABC, Mr. Emmanuel Butare, EABC Governing Council Member, called for an EAC that works in practice for businesses, investors, workers and consumers.
He noted that the EAC provides access to a market of more than 331 million people, with significant productive capacity, but that intra-regional trade remains below its potential. He called for the region to move beyond increasing cross-border trade towards developing regional value chains and encouraging East African companies to invest across Partner States.
Mr. Butare identified Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), regulatory inconsistencies, infrastructure bottlenecks, border delays, fragmented licensing requirements and limited access to finance among the key challenges affecting regional businesses.
He called for stronger implementation of EAC commitments, including the elimination of NTBs, harmonisation and mutual recognition of standards and professional qualifications, facilitation of the movement of people and services, improved investment facilitation and reduction of the cost of doing business.
Mr. Callixte Kanamugire, Acting Chief Executive Officer, Private Sector Federation of Rwanda (PSF-Rwanda), emphasised the importance of ensuring that regional integration delivers tangible benefits to businesses.
He highlighted the need to address the cost and time of doing business, border procedures, regulatory bottlenecks and market-access challenges, while strengthening cooperation between government institutions and the private sector. He underscored the importance of continuous public-private dialogue to identify barriers, develop practical solutions and ensure effective implementation of regional commitments.
Mr. Markus Warchkuhn, Head of Programmes, GIZ, highlighted the importance of a comprehensive approach to improving competitiveness, noting that policy and regulatory reforms should be complemented by skills development, financial literacy, access to finance, quality standards and stronger private-sector capacity.
He noted the importance of supporting businesses to improve product quality, strengthen competitiveness and participate more effectively in regional and international markets.
Ms. Janet Gatera, Rwanda Country Manager, East African Development Bank (EADB), highlighted the critical role of appropriate and long-term financing in supporting private-sector investment and regional value-chain development.
She noted that investments in manufacturing, agriculture and agro-processing, infrastructure, energy, tourism and other productive sectors require financing that matches their long-term nature. She called for greater use of regional financial institutions to support businesses seeking to expand production and invest across EAC Partner States.
Speaking on behalf of EAC Secretary General Amb. Stephen Mbundi, Ms. Flavia Busingye, Director for Customs and Trade, EAC Secretariat, emphasised that regional integration must translate into measurable commercial results, particularly by reducing the time, cost and uncertainty of doing business.
She highlighted progress in trade facilitation, including EACBond, the strengthening of the Single Customs Territory, cargo scanner-image sharing, review of the EAC Rules of Origin, self-certification, advance rulings and digital customs procedures. She noted that Rwanda is at the forefront of implementing EACBond and elements of the Single Customs Territory.
Ms. Busingye also highlighted outstanding challenges along regional corridors, including multiple weighbridges, road user charges, congestion, inconsistent border procedures and market-access constraints. She called for every unresolved barrier to be assigned a responsible institution, clear action, realistic deadline and evidence for closure. The official opening was followed by a presentation by PwC on Rwanda’s economic outlook and opportunities for the private sector.
The presentation highlighted Rwanda’s economic performance, emerging investment opportunities and challenges associated with infrastructure needs, trade, private-sector financing and national development priorities. It identified opportunities across sectors including agriculture and agro-processing, manufacturing, ICT and digital services, energy, housing, logistics, tourism, financial services, infrastructure and mining.
The presentation further emphasised the role of private capital in supporting Rwanda’s development priorities and encouraged businesses to position themselves to participate in emerging investment opportunities and regional value chains.
The Roundtable also featured a panel discussion bringing together representatives from the private sector and key economic sectors to examine practical challenges and opportunities affecting regional trade and investment.
The panel highlighted challenges related to logistics and border efficiency, manufacturing, tourism, customs procedures, standards, market access, infrastructure, digitalisation and regional connectivity.
The Roundtable concluded with a shared call for East Africa to move from protocols to performance and from commitments to implementation, with regional integration measured by tangible improvements in the business environment.
EABC reaffirmed its commitment to working with the EAC Secretariat, Partner States, national business associations, development partners and financial institutions to address barriers to trade and investment and strengthen the competitiveness of East African businesses.
The Roundtable also promoted the East Africa CEO Investment Forum 2026, scheduled for 17–18 November 2026 in Nairobi, Kenya, as a platform for CEOs and investors to develop partnerships, explore investment opportunities and convert regional business engagements into concrete transactions.About the Upcoming EABC East Africa CEO & Investment Forum – September 2026
