EABC Invites Cooperatives to Investment Summit & Expo 2026
KAMPALA, February 12, 2026 – The East African Business Council [ EABC ], in partnership with the International Trade Centre [ITC], has invited business entities, member-based organisations, cooperatives to take advantage of the opportunities available at the forthcoming East African Business and Investment Summit & Expo [EABIS] 2026.
The two-day summit will be held from February 24-25, at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi, Kenya. The event is supported by the European Union under the EU–EAC Market Access Upgrade Programme.
The annual summit attracts corporate leaders and entrepreneurs from across the region, providing a platform to explore markets, exchange ideas, forge partnerships and identify sustainable business opportunities.
The Chair of the EAC Council of Ministers and Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for the Ministry of EAC Affairs, Askul Moe, has identified cooperatives as key beneficiaries of the summit, citing the unique business model of SACCOs.
“Cooperatives in particular have an opportunity to tap into this platform, engage with the wider business community for collaborative activities and potentially strengthen and expand their enterprises,” she said during the launch of preparations for the event.
She further noted that international trade is constantly evolving and that for East African Micro, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises[MSMEs] navigating complex trade regulations remains one of the biggest barriers to growth.
“While tariffs continue to decline, compliance with non-tariff measures such as technical requirements, certification, packaging and labelling is becoming increasingly complex,” she said.
The East African Business and Investment Summit & Expo is a flagship event that brings together government officials, chief executives, investors, development partners and business leaders from across Africa. The forum aims to shape the East African economic agenda and unlock new intra- and extra-EAC trade and investment opportunities.
Moe observed that the cooperative movement has not received the priority it deserves at previous events, attributing this to limited appreciation within sections of the business community of the vital role cooperatives play in transforming livelihoods.
In Kenya, the cooperative sector contributes more than 42 per cent to the country’s Gross Domestic Product. In Uganda, at least 13 million people belong to cooperative structures that underpin their financial wellbeing.
However, cooperatives in Uganda — particularly those engaged in agricultural production and export — have faced significant challenges accessing regional markets in Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania. Customs authorities have frequently imposed non-tariff barriers, with similar challenges reported for Ugandan exporters in neighbouring countries.
To help businesses turn market access challenges into a competitive advantage, the International Trade Centre is expected to launch its latest digital solution, the Non-Tariff Measures Self-Assessment Tool [NTM SAT], during the summit.
ITC will also present on the AfCFTA Investment Protocol and the WTO Investment Facilitation Agreement, highlighting opportunities arising from regional and continental integration. In addition, the organisation will share insights from a value chain diagnostic study focused on empowering cooperative-type entities to drive industrialisation.
Other key topics on the agenda include artificial intelligence, climate finance, green trade, intermodal transport and infrastructure connectivity, as well as broader global economic trends aimed at helping businesses reposition themselves for enhanced trade and investment opportunities.
https://thecooperator.news/eac-technocrats-to-explore-business-linkages-in-dr-congo-this-week/
Buy your copy of theCooperator magazine from one of our countrywide vending points or an e-copy on emag.thecooperator.news
