London — The United Kingdom has launched the first-ever UK–East Africa Trade and Investment Forum (EATIF) with a bold commitment to boost regional commerce and green mobility.
Held from May 21–22, the event marked a new chapter in the UK–East Africa economic relations, featuring over $105 million in new investments targeting cross-border trade and the e-mobility sector.
Hosted in London and organised by DMA Invest and the East Africa Association in partnership with the UK Government, the forum brought together senior government officials and private sector leaders from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania to engage directly with British investors and institutions.
Key Announcements
British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, unveiled two major initiatives: a $100 million trade finance facility in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank to de-risk and expand cross-border and local trade in Kenya and Tanzania. The facility, aligned with the 2X Challenge, will especially support women-led businesses and is projected to finance over $450 million in trade volumes during its lifespan.
The second is a $5 million investment in electric mobility to support ARC Ride’s rollout of 5,000 electric motorbikes and battery-swapping stations in Kenya. The initiative aims to cut 100,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually by replacing petrol-fueled boda-bodas with electric alternatives.
High-Level Representation
UK Minister for Africa Lord Collins led the British delegation and reaffirmed the UK’s long-term investment commitment to the region: “This forum showcases the best of East African business and lays the foundation for a long pipeline of private sector investment. Together, we are building a future of shared prosperity.”
Uganda was represented by Gen. Edward Katumba Wamala, Minister of Works and Transport, and Mwebesa Francis, Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives. Mwebesa called the forum “a platform to unlock Uganda’s trade potential and accelerate our Ten-Fold Growth Strategy.”
Kenya’s delegation included Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, and KenInvest CEO John Mwendwa. Tanzania was represented by Msafiri Lameck Mbibo, Deputy Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Minerals.
A Vision for Regional Integration
EATIF builds on the success of the West and Central Africa Forum (WCAF), which mobilised over £1 billion in deals in just three years. Organisers hope to replicate that momentum in East Africa by focusing on sectors like infrastructure, clean energy, healthcare, agribusiness, and manufacturing.
The forum will be followed by a series of targeted engagements—from government-to-government talks to executive business dialogues—to convert initial discussions into tangible investments. Tools such as UK Export Finance (UKEF) and BII are positioned to help both UK and East African companies access capital and manage investment risks more effectively.
As East Africa seeks sustainable growth and deeper economic integration, EATIF stands out as a turning point, laying the groundwork for resilient, inclusive, and future-facing partnerships.