The UK hosted the inaugural East Africa Trade and Investment Forum on May 21-22, 2025, uniting governments and businesses from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, and the UK to enhance trade partnerships.
This initiative aims to empower female-led enterprises and promote sustainable growth through significant investments in trade finance and clean energy.
Empowering Women Through Trade Finance
The British International Investment (BII) and Standard Chartered Bank have announced a USD $100 million trade finance facility aimed at de-risking cross-border trade in Kenya and Tanzania.
This facility is expected to support over USD $450 million in trade volumes. A notable aspect of this initiative is its focus on supporting female-led businesses under the ‘2X Challenge,’ which promotes women’s economic empowerment.
Driving Sustainable Growth with Electric Motorbikes
BII has committed USD $5 million to expand electric motorbike infrastructure in Kenya. This investment will facilitate the rollout of 5,000 electric motorbikes and develop battery swapping infrastructure.
The project aims to significantly reduce CO2 emissions by potentially saving over 100,000 metric tonnes annually.
Opportunities for UK Businesses
- Access new markets in East Africa through de-risked trade finance opportunities.
- Enhance corporate social responsibility by supporting gender equality initiatives.
- Participate in sustainable transport projects that align with global climate goals.
- Leverage UK Export Finance tools for easier access to project financing.
Building on Past Successes
This forum seeks to replicate the achievements of the West and Central Africa Forum, which generated over GBP 1 billion in deals between 2022-2025.
The UK’s commitment to fostering economic growth in East Africa is further underscored by its history of supporting African development through strategic investments.
Voices from Key Stakeholders
Lord Collins, Minister for Africa said,
“The UK is a long-term partner for long-term investment in East Africa. This forum will showcase the best of East African business to British business and lay a pipeline of private sector investment between them.”
Mwebesa Francis, Uganda’s Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives, emphasized the forum’s role:
“We welcome this platform to highlight Uganda’s vibrant trade opportunities…to accelerate progress towards our Ten-fold Growth Strategy.”
Additional Reading
Bottom Line
The East Africa Trade and Investment Forum marks a significant step toward strengthening economic ties between the UK and East Africa.
By focusing on empowering women-led businesses and promoting sustainable energy solutions, this initiative not only fosters regional growth but also aligns with global development goals.
Sources: UK Government, DMA Invest, British International Investment, British High Commission Kampala, British High Commission Dar es Salaam and British High Commission Nairobi.
Prepared by Ivan Alexander Golden, Founder of THX News™, an independent news organization delivering timely insights from global official sources. Combines AI-analyzed research with human-edited accuracy and context.
