Ministers responsible for Trade, MSME Development and EAC Affairs pledged to accelerate the competitiveness of MSMEs within the evolving green economy. They emphasised the need for targeted green-finance mechanisms, technical assistance and closer collaboration with business-support organisations. The fair showcased the innovation driving these opportunities, with Tanzanian electric-vehicle manufacturer Kaypee Motors named overall exhibition winner for its six-hour-charge electric minivan designed to deliver affordable, eco-friendly mobility across the region.
The week-long event attracted thousands of entrepreneurs displaying products ranging from agro-processing and handicrafts to digital solutions and green technologies. Top performers recognised at the closing ceremony included Rwanda’s Zima Healthy Group as first runner-up and Kenya’s Authentic Traditional Cooking as second runner-up, demonstrating the depth of talent and creativity across all Partner States.
Winning exhibitors were selected by a judging panel comprising two representatives from each Partner State and the EAC Secretariat. Criteria included originality and market readiness, product quality and display, alignment with the fair’s theme, stand presentation and overall customer engagement. Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Wycliffe Oparanya, commended the National and Regional Organising Committees, Partner States and the EAC Secretariat for delivering a seamless and impactful event.“We celebrate the creativity and resilience of our entrepreneurs.
This fair opens new avenues for partnerships, investment and access to expanded regional markets,” he said.EAC Secretary-General Veronica Nduva highlighted key policy achievements that continue to improve the business environment, including the accelerated elimination of Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs), the harmonisation of 2,040 regional standards and a 50 per cent reduction in the time taken to resolve NTBs.
She noted that border clearance times have fallen by 75 per cent, with most transactions now completed within a single day, thanks to One Stop Border Posts, digital linkages among trade agencies and other cross-border facilitation measures.
These reforms, she added, are strengthening cross-border trade and increasing the visibility of EAC products through e-commerce and digital trade platforms. A symbolic highlight of the closing ceremony was the handover of the EAC flag from Kenya to the EAC Secretariat, marking the transition to the host of the 26th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair in 2026, which the Secretariat will announce in due course.
[/full]
