25th EAC MSME Trade Fair closing Ceremony

The 25th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Expo officially concluded with a renewed call for enhanced recognition and strengthened support for the MSME sector across the region. Stakeholders affirmed that only through sustained and coordinated regional support can the sector fully assume its role as a central driver of socio-economic development within the East African Community.

During the closing session, Principal Secretary Hon. Susan Mang'eni joined the Cabinet Secretary, Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya, in underscoring the critical role of MSMEs in addressing youth unemployment and fostering inclusive economic growth. We reiterated the need for a unified regional approach aimed at building a robust and enabling ecosystem that empowers entrepreneurs to scale, compete, and thrive.

The EAC Secretary General, H.E. Veronica Nduva, reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to expanding free market access for MSMEs across regional borders. She emphasized that unlocking cross-border trade opportunities remains essential to leveraging the full potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which comprises a market of 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of USD 3 trillion.

To strengthen policy linkage and improve decision-making at the highest level, the Principal Secretary  requested the organising committee to align the annual EAC MSME Trade Fair calendar with the EAC Summit of Heads of State held each November. This alignment will facilitate the direct presentation of the Expo’s outcomes and resolutions to the Summit, enabling deeper policy engagement and more effective regional action.

The Ministerial leadership expressed its sincere appreciation to all exhibitors from the eight EAC Partner States who participated in the 25th EAC MSME Trade Fair and demonstrated their innovations and products.