Business

Trade among members of the East African Community (EAC) jumped by 27 % from USD 14.2 billion to USD 18 billion between June 2024 and June 2025, while total EAC trade with the rest of the world rose 22 % to USD 140.8 billion in the same period, officials told delegates at the 25th EAC Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair in Nairobi.

The East African Business Council (EABC) and the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at promoting growth and competitiveness in the leather industry across the East African Community (EAC) and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) regions. The five-year agreement focuses on...

The East African Community has launched a pilot project to link Rwanda and Tanzania’s national payment systems, a move officials say will pave the way for instant, low-cost money transfers across the region. The project connects Tanzania’s Instant Payment System (TIPS) with Rwanda’s National Payment Switch (RSwitch), allowing people and businesses to send and...

The East African Business Council (EABC) and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have together unveiled a major initiative aimed at accelerating sustainable and inclusive industrialization across the East African Community (EAC). The project, launched in Arusha Nov. 6–7, focuses on enhancing regional manufacturing competitiveness and boosting value-addition in three priority chains: edible oils, textiles and leather.

China has cemented its dominance as East Africa’s top trading partner, deepening economic interdependence with the bloc as overall trade hit record levels. The EAC Secretariat reports that “China remained the leading source of imports, contributing US$ 4.7 billion or 24.2% of the total,” and was also one of the largest destinations for...

ARUSHA, TANZANIA — The East African Community (EAC) is grappling with stubbornly high inflation even as trade figures soar, with food prices emerging as the sharpest pain point across the region. According to the EAC Secretariat’s Quarterly Statistics Bulletin (Q2 2025), the “annual average food inflation in the EAC region stood at 38.5% for the 2024/25 fiscal...

Burundi’s Prime Minister, Nestor Ntahontuye, has condemned the widespread mismanagement and misuse of state-owned properties following a recent inspection across several provinces, calling for swift government action to restore accountability in public asset management. During a field visit on November 3 to properties in Buhumuza Province which includes Cankuzo, Ruyigi and in Gitega, the...

Global commodity prices are expected to fall to their lowest level in six years in 2026, a trend that could ease inflation in Africa but threaten export revenues for economies like Burundi, the World Bank said in its latest Commodity Markets Outlook. The Bank projects that prices will decline by 7% in both 2025 and...

Industrial and commercial establishments in Burundi could face fines of up to 500,000 Burundi francs (around US $150) for dumping wastewater and other pollutants into rivers, lakes, or wetlands, under a new sanitation ordinance enacted this month. The law prohibits factories, workshops, and business premises from releasing untreated waste or oil residues into natural...

Burundi’s economy is projected to grow by 4.4 percent in 2025, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), signalling a steady recovery from 3.5 percent growth in 2024. While the pace remains moderate compared to some East African peers, the IMF expects Burundi to maintain stable momentum through 2026. The projections are part of...