EAC trade gets 27% boost as MSME fair puts integration in focus

Thursday 13th November 2025

by inAfrika Newsroom

EAC trade is gaining speed as East African leaders use a regional small-business fair in Nairobi to push integration, officials said. They reported that intra-EAC trade rose by 27% to 18 billion dollars between June 2024 and June 2025. Moreover, total trade between the bloc and external partners grew by 22% to 140.8 billion dollars over the same period.

The figures came during the opening of the 25th EAC Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Trade Fair at Uhuru Gardens. The ten-day event, running from 7 to 16 November, hosts more than 3,000 exhibitors from all eight partner states. Moreover, organisers describe the fair as both a marketplace and a policy forum for small firms.

Kenyan President William Ruto, current chair of the EAC Summit, opened the fair and pledged to confront non-tariff barriers. He told delegates that the recent surge in EAC trade reflects growing confidence in the regional market. Therefore, he urged governments to move faster on long-agreed commitments under the common market protocol.

The 2025 edition carries the theme “25 Years of EAC Integration: Advancing Innovation and Regional Value Chains for Competitive MSMEs.” Officials say the fair’s silver-jubilee year highlights the role of small businesses in driving EAC trade. Moreover, they note that many stands feature youth- and women-led enterprises in textiles, crafts, agro-processing and light manufacturing.

The programme includes business-to-business meetings, business-to-government dialogues, cultural performances and sessions on green and digital enterprise. EAC institutions are also promoting a regional trade helpdesk and data portals that give firms better access to market information. Moreover, the International Trade Centre has opened a new regional office in Nairobi to support MSMEs with export skills and matchmaking.

The EAC Secretariat says the 27% jump in intra-regional trade reflects stronger flows of manufactured goods and processed foods. However, it warns that non-tariff barriers, slow border procedures and uneven application of standards still limit the bloc’s full potential. Officials at the fair highlighted recurring complaints over duplicate inspections, extra fees and unpredictable licensing rules at some crossings.

In addition, the admission of the Democratic Republic of Congo and Somalia has expanded the EAC market to more than 300 million people. The bloc’s combined GDP now stands at about 305 billion dollars, according to recent regional estimates. Moreover, policymakers see the enlarged market as a platform for EAC trade growth under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Small firms at the fair are using the event to test new products, secure contracts and form cross-border partnerships. Artisans from border towns reported stronger sales to neighbours after earlier fairs helped them understand customs rules and packaging needs. Therefore, business associations argue that consistent support for MSMEs can turn headline-level trade gains into local jobs and incomes.

Now, attention turns to implementation. Analysts say governments must back political promises with practical steps at borders and within key agencies. They point to investments in one-stop border posts, digital customs tools and joint standards inspections as proven options. Overall, regional officials argue that the Nairobi fair shows how small businesses already drive integration and that deeper reform could unlock even stronger EAC trade growth.