Nairobi: Private sector leaders from Kenya and Tanzania, represented by the Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA) and Tanzania Private Sector Federation (TPSF), have issued a joint call to action, urging the Kenyan and Tanzanian governments to accelerate economic integration and dismantle remaining barriers to trade. In a communique read by the CEO of KEPSA, Carole Kariuki, in the presence of Dr. Samia Suluhu Hassan, President of the United Republic of Tanzania, and Dr. William Samoei Ruto, President of the Republic of Kenya, during the Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum, the business community emphasized the need for a seamless regional environment that prioritizes stability, speed, and shared infrastructure.
According to Kenya News Agency, in a panel session on Financial Systems, Fintech, and The Digital Economy, KEPSA Chairperson Dr. Jaswinder Bedi noted the robust economic growth the East African Community (EAC) region continues to exhibit. However, he highlighted that despite this progress, the region struggles with a structural trade deficit, driven largely by its reliance on imported capital goods and energy products, which continue to exert downward pressure on the balance of trade. KEPSA members provided practical insights into the regional business landscape, with the CEO of KCB Group, Paul Russo, delivering a testimonial presentation detailing the group’s successful operational experience across both Kenya and Tanzania.
Additionally, the CEO of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers (KAM), Tobias Alando, contributed to a high-level panel on ‘Agriculture, Trade and Investment: From Farm to Market,’ where he addressed the critical transitions needed to strengthen regional value chains. The keynote addresses by the two Heads of State underscored the critical role of the private sector in advancing the economies of both countries. The two leaders reaffirmed their resolve to provide a stable, predictable, and enabling environment, anchored on regulatory clarity, investor protection, and infrastructure integration.
Together, they pledged to fast-track regional projects in energy and logistics, positioning the two nations not as rivals but as the twin engines driving the East African Community’s growth. “Beyond trade and capital, our people remain the backbone of this partnership. The free movement of people, labour, services, and capital continues to unlock innovation, enterprise, and shared opportunity. Despite this progress, we must acknowledge that we are still underperforming relative to our full potential. The gap lies not in ambition but in execution,” said President Ruto.
On her part, President Suluhu Hassan challenged the delegates to move beyond competition, urging both nations to operate with a shared spirit of brotherhood and partnership. Emphasizing that Kenya and Tanzania are part of the same family rather than rivals, she noted that while the political will to collaborate is firmly in place, the focus must now shift toward the practical journey of implementation. The Tanzanian president concluded by stressing that with the Memoranda of Understanding now officially signed, both sides must move past mere rhetoric and commit to the hard work of delivering results.
The summit featured B2B matchmaking and high-level sessions, where delegates identified critical bottlenecks stifling bilateral commerce. Key issues raised included the persistence of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and discriminatory taxes, fees, and levies that continue to erode the benefits of intra-EAC trade. Furthermore, participants highlighted how disparate regulatory standards and border delays significantly inflate the cost of doing business, particularly within the agricultural sector, which is the region’s primary economic driver.
The summit saw eight new MoUs and agreements signed, covering trade, investment, infrastructure, and transport. It ended with various milestones, including the Heads of State directives to officials to eliminate all remaining non-tariff barriers to trade by 31st May 2026, following earlier directives to ease cross-border commerce by June.
