By Eddah Waithaka
Kenya kicks off the 25th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Trade Fair this Thursday at Uhuru Gardens, launching a ten-day celebration of regional innovation and economic integration.
The event, running from November 7 to 16, brings together more than 3,000 exhibitors from all eight EAC Partner States.
This silver jubilee edition marks a major milestone for the community, which is celebrating 25 years of economic collaboration.
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya, announced Wednesday that the fair will highlight the region’s progress in empowering small businesses.
The theme, “25 Years of EAC Integration: Advancing Innovation and Regional Value Chains for Competitive MSMEs,” reflects a push for deeper economic ties.
“This Silver Jubilee edition reaffirms our shared vision of an East Africa where goods, services, labour, and capital move freely,” Dr. Oparanya told media in Nairobi.
He called on Partner States to deepen implementation of the East Africa Market Protocol to “unlock a market of over 300 million consumers.”
The fair coincides with President William Ruto’s tenure as Chairperson of the EAC Heads of State, giving Kenya a platform to reaffirm its commitment to regional integration.
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In a significant development, the International Trade Centre (ITC) will officially launch its new regional office in Nairobi during the event, cementing Kenya’s role as a continental hub for trade.
President Ruto will preside over the high-level opening ceremony on Monday, November 10. The event will also feature a ministerial roundtable addressing key challenges for MSMEs, including Non-Tariff Barriers, and a Regional Symposium on innovation and value-chain development.
Dr. Oparanya emphasized the sector’s critical role in Kenya’s economy, noting that MSMEs contribute over 70 percent of total employment.
He urged entrepreneurs to use the fair as a “gateway to connect, learn, and expand beyond borders.”
First held in Arusha, Tanzania, in 1999, the EAC MSME Trade Fair has grown into the region’s most influential marketplace for innovators and artisans.
Kenya is also using the occasion to showcase its tourism offerings, inviting regional delegates to explore attractions from Nairobi National Park, minutes from the venue to the country’s scenic beaches and wildlife reserves.
Dr. Oparanya thanked the EAC Secretariat and supporting institutions for their collaboration, adding, “Together, let us use this platform to unlock the full potential of regional integration and harness the energy of our entrepreneurs.”
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