The East African Business Council (EABC), in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB), successfully launched the project “Accelerating Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialization in the East African Community”.
The two-day hybrid launch, held from 6th to 7th November 2025, marked the official kick-off of the project, which aims to enhance regional industrial competitiveness and value addition of key manufacturing priority chains of edible oils, textiles, and leather.
In his opening remarks, Acting Executive Director of East Africa Business Council, Adrian Raphael Njau, expressed gratitude to AfDB for supporting the project and highlighted its significance in driving industrial transformation across the East African Community.
“The project will harmonize regional trade instruments, promote value addition in priority value chains, enhance export competitiveness, and attract investment, thereby increasing the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP and creating job opportunities for youth,” He stated.
Mr Njau reaffirmed East Africa Business Councils commitment to ensuring that the project delivers impactful results contributing to economic growth, regional competitiveness and shared prosperity.
The Trade Facilitation Officer at AfDB, Gerald Ajumbo, commended East Africa Business Councils leadership in conceptualizing and bringing the project to fruition.
He reiterated AfDB’s commitment to promoting regional integration and emphasized that the launch served as an important platform for exchange and alignment on project monitoring, evaluation, and implementation work plan to ensure compliance with best practices.
As part of the launch, AfDB Officials conducted detailed technical sessions to strengthen East Africa Business Councils understanding of the Bank’s operational and fiduciary requirements, focusing on disbursement, financial management and procurement compliance.
The project aligns with EABC’s mission to foster a conducive business environment and sustainable, private sector–driven growth, as well as AfDB’s commitment to scale up and accelerate industrialization through the manufacturing sector across Africa by 2033, in line with the Bank Group’s Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033) and the “Integrate Africa” High 5 Vision.
