Business

KAMPALA, Uganda — East African countries are looking to unlock the region’s underutilized leather industry potential, as stakeholders met in Kampala earlier this month to chart a path forward for the sector. The three-day EAC Regional Leather Platform Meeting, held April 3–5, brought together government officials, private sector players, and development partners to identify...

NAIROBI, Kenya (March 25, 2025) — East Africa's economic growth is expected to increase to 5.7% in 2025, up from 5.1% in 2024, according to the latest economic outlook presented by the East African Business Council (EABC) in partnership with RSM Eastern Africa. During the CEO Roundtable on East African Integration and Economic Outlook,...

MOMBASA, Kenya (March 21, 2025) — The East African Community (EAC) has taken a significant step toward enhancing cross-border payments with the regional validation of the Draft EAC Cross-Border Payment System Masterplan. The validation was confirmed during the EAC Regional Payment Systems Steering Committee meeting in Mombasa from March 17-21, 2025. The Masterplan is...

BUJUMBURA, Burundi ( The Burundian government has set the official price for maize at 1,700 Burundian francs (Fbu) per kilogram for the current production cycle, Minister of Environment, Agriculture, and Livestock Prosper Dodiko announced Tuesday during a press briefing. The move aims to stabilize market conditions and encourage farmers to continue their agricultural activities.

The Ministry of Finance, Budget and Economic Development has launched the second phase of its electronic invoicing project, aimed at strengthening tax revenue management through digitalization. Finance Minister Nestor Ntahontuye announced the initiative on March 18 at the headquarters of the Burundi Revenue Authority (OBR). As part of the expansion, the government has acquired...

KAMPALA, Uganda — Telecommunications stakeholders from across Africa gathered in Kampala for a pivotal workshop on the One Africa Network (OAN) and the East African Community's (EAC) One Network Area (ONA) on March 7, 2025. The event, jointly hosted by Smart Africa and the EAC Secretariat, focused on advancing digital integration and reducing barriers to affordable communication...

DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania (March 6, 2025) — East African Community (EAC) Partner States were urged to prioritize using revenues from the region’s burgeoning petroleum sector for sustainable development and job creation during the 11th East African Petroleum Conference and Exhibition (EAPCE’25) in Dar es Salaam. Tanzania’s Vice President, Philip Mpango, emphasized that petroleum...

Bujumbura, Burundi – February 20, 2025 – A new market access project for enterprises in Burundi, called UGUSHORA (to sell/export in Kirundi), has been launched to support economic development and job creation by promoting export-oriented investments and businesses. The project, funded by the Embassy of the Netherlands in Burundi, is implemented by the TRAIDE Foundation in partnership...

Bujumbura, Burundi (Feb. 18, 2025) — Efforts to strengthen policy advocacy for the services sector in East Africa are gaining traction as business leaders and policymakers push for institutionalized dialogue and regulatory reforms. With services contributing between 40% and 55% of the East African Community (EAC) GDP, stakeholders emphasize the need for a robust...

African leaders and business experts gathered Thursday for the webinar "Trump, Trade, and Africa: Turning Policy Shifts into Opportunities" to discuss how evolving U.S. trade policies could provide significant opportunities for inclusive and sustainable growth across the continent. Hon. John Lual Akol Akol, chairperson of the East African Business Council (EABC), called for a...