Kampala, Uganda, 21st June 2023: The East African Business Council (EABC), Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) and the East African Community (EAC) Secretariat, in partnership with Afreximbank and RSM Eastern Africa are pleased to announce the highly anticipated East African Business and Investment Summit 2023. This prestigious event will take place from August 31st to September 1st, 2023, at Speke Munyonyo Hotel in Kampala, Uganda.
Themed “Private Sector-Driven Regional Integration for Increased Intra-African Trade, Investment & Economic Growth,” the East African Business and Investment Summit 2023 will serve as a crucial platform for key stakeholders to converge and discuss the successes, challenges, and opportunities in trade and investments within the East African Community (EAC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
“Intra-EAC exports grew throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, rising from US$ 3.0 billion in 2019 to a record US$ 5.2 billion in 2022,” said Mr. John Bosco Kalisa, CEO EABC. Intra-EAC export share grew to 24.3% of total exports in 2022 increasing from 21.9% in 2019.
The East African Business and Investment Summit 2023 is the premier East African Community Economic Forum and will be graced by the Chair of the EAC Council of Ministers. This demonstration of high-level support and commitment signifies our collective determination to foster economic growth and regional integration within the EAC region.
During the summit, the Chair of the EAC Council of Ministers will sign the Communique, outlining resolutions and strategic actions that will drive our collective vision forward. The East African Business and Investment Summit 2023 will explore continental and global trends, shifting economic environments, and discuss strategies to position the EAC as the prime investment destination in Africa.
“This Summit is organized in close collaboration with all Investment Promotion Authorities in East Africa, who will showcase investment opportunities and present viable projects ready for investment to East African, African, and international investors,” said Ms. Hope Waira, Senior Investment Executive at Uganda Investment Authority ( UIA)
Over 500 delegates from the continent and beyond are expected to attend, including esteemed Ministers, senior government officials, industry leaders, potential investors, and financial institutions. The East African Business and Investment Summit 2023 will facilitate valuable business-to-business engagements, joint ventures, partnerships, business deals, and an exhibition. The high-level panel discussions will share progress and insights on Trade and Investment Climate, African Continental Free Trade Area – Positioning the Private Sector to Take Advantage of the AfCFTA, Sustainable Industrialization and Value Chains in Africa. There will be side sessions on the Digital Economy in East Africa, Tax Regime Harmonization, Services Trade in AfCFTA, and Women and Youth in Business & SMEs in the EAC.
Testimonials on Exporting under AfCFTA and visits to potential investment sites will also be available during the Summit.
Mr. Francis Kisirinya- Director Membership at Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) called upon businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors from across the continent and beyond are invited to register their attendance at www.eabc-online.com/businesssummit. He said the summit presents a unique opportunity for networking, knowledge exchange, and exploring potential partnerships that will contribute to the growth and prosperity of our region.
Oh his part, John Walabyeki, Partner at RSM Eastern Africa, said “RSM Eastern Africa is proud to be a silver sponsor of the East African Business and Investment Summit 2023 and will share expertise on pushing forward the agenda of tax harmonization in East Africa.”
Special appreciation goes to all our partners and sponsors, particularly Afreximbank and RSM Eastern Africa, Private Sector Foundation Uganda, Uganda Manufacturers Association, Uganda Investment Promotion Authority and Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
Together, let us seize the opportunities, drive economic growth, and shape a prosperous future for our beloved EAC bloc region.
About East African Business Council: The East African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex body of private sector associations and Corporates from the 7 East African countries. It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process of the East African Community. EABC vision is a borderless East Africa for business and investment. The primary mission is to promote sustainable private sector-driven growth in the EAC. www.eabc-online.com/businesssummit
About Afreximbank
African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) is a Pan-African multilateral financial institution mandated to finance and promote intra-and extra-African trade. Afreximbank deploys innovative structures to deliver financing solutions that support the transformation of the structure of Africa’s trade, accelerating industrialization and intra-regional trade, thereby boosting economic expansion in Africa. A stalwart supporter of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), Afreximbank has launched a Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS) that was adopted by the African Union (AU) as the payment and settlement platform to underpin the implementation of the AfCFTA. Afreximbank is working with the AU and the AfCFTA Secretariat to develop an Adjustment Facility to support countries in effectively participating in the AfCFTA. At the end of 2021, the Bank’s total assets and guarantees stood at about US$25 billion, and its shareholder funds amounted to US$4 billion. Afreximbank disbursed more than US$51 billion between 2016 and 2021. The Bank has ratings assigned by GCR (international scale) (A), Moody’s (Baa1), Japan Credit Rating Agency (JCR) (A-) and Fitch (BBB). The Bank is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
For more information, visit: www.afreximbank.com.
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About RSM
RSM is a powerful Network of audit, tax and consulting experts with offices all over the world. As an integrated team, we share skills, insight and resources, as well as a client-centric approach that’s based on a deep understanding of your business.
For more information: https://www.rsm.global/tanzania/
