EABC , AfDB Launch Project to Accelerate Sustainable and Inclusive Industrialization in the East African Community

Monday 10th November 2025: 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 (EAC)”.

The two-day hybrid launch, held from 6th to 7th November 2025, marked the official kickoff 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, Mr. Adrian Raphael Njau, Acting Executive Director of EABC, expressed gratitude to AfDB for supporting the project and highlighted its significance in driving industrial transformation across the EAC.

“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 EABC’s commitment to ensuring that the project delivers impactful results contributing to economic growth, regional competitiveness, and shared prosperity.

Mr. Gerald Ajumbo, Trade Facilitation Officer at AfDB, commended EABC’s 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 EABC’s 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”

The East African Business Council (EABC) is the regional apex body of private sector associations and Corporates from the 8 East African countries. It was established in 1997 to foster the interests of the private sector in the integration process of the East African Community.

EABC vision is a borderless East Africa for business and investment. The primary mission is to advocate for a conducive business environment and promote sustainable, private sector–driven growth in the EAC region. www.eabc-online.com