The 25th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Trade Fair came to a triumphant close on Sunday, 16th November 2025, marking a milestone in regional cooperation and entrepreneurship. This year’s silver jubilee edition, hosted at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi, celebrated the creativity, resilience, and ingenuity of East Africa’s MSME sector, bringing together over 3,000 exhibitors from all eight EAC partner states. Notably, Kenya had over 1,000 MSMEs participating, showcasing a vibrant array of products ranging from household items, agricultural machines, artisanal crafts, jewelry, culturally inspired outfits, edible oils, to high-tech innovations.
The official opening of the Trade Fair on 11th November 2025 was graced by His Excellency the President, Dr. William Samoei Ruto, who reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to strengthening regional integration and fostering the growth of MSMEs across East Africa. “Under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), MSMEs remain at the heart of Kenya’s economic agenda, driving job creation and inclusive growth,” the President stated. He highlighted key pillars of BETA, including financial inclusion through the Hustler Fund, which has disbursed over KES 80 billion since 2022, offering dignified and affordable credit of up to KES 150,000 for entrepreneurs.
President Ruto further underscored ongoing initiatives to empower MSMEs, including the establishment of County Aggregation and Industrial Parks, provision of Common User Manufacturing Facilities, targeted grant programs, and access to credit. He highlighted the NYOTA Program, targeting 110,000 youth aged between 18–29 years and persons with disabilities up to 35 years, with a minimum of 50% women beneficiaries, while aiming to create opportunities for over 600,000 entrepreneurs nationwide. The President also revealed that artisans in the Jua Kali sector have benefited from the Affordable Housing Programme, with KES 15 billion allocated for the manufacture and supply of doors, windows, hinges, and other construction materials.
His Excellency President Dr. William Samoei Ruto giving his remarks during the official opening of the 25th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair.
In a significant boost for regional trade, President Ruto announced the establishment of the International Trade Centre (ITC) regional office in Gigiri, Nairobi, symbolizing Kenya’s and East Africa’s shared commitment to expanding trade and investment opportunities. He commended all exhibitors for their vibrant participation and presented the Women in Trade Award to Elizabeth Ngina of Shalom Pride Collection Association and the Product of the Year Award to Daniel Okaka, recognizing excellence in creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Throughout the Fair, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Hon. Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya, officiated Kenya Day, hosting a gala dinner for the country’s participating MSMEs. Dr. Oparanya emphasized that this year’s theme, “25 Years of EAC Integration: Advancing Innovation and Regional Value Chains for Competitive MSMEs Towards Sustainable Development,” aligns seamlessly with Kenya’s BETA framework, which prioritizes agricultural productivity and MSME transformation. He celebrated the impressive turnout of exhibitors, noting that MSMEs contribute about 30% of Kenya’s GDP and generate over 90% of jobs, yet continue to face challenges such as limited market access, financing gaps, and climate-related disruptions.
Dr. Oparanya also highlighted the partnership with ITC, which recently established its first corporate office in Africa in Nairobi, recognizing Kenya as a regional hub for trade and enterprise development. “To our MSMEs, there would be no Trade Fair without you. Your creativity and resilience continue to inspire us all,” he said. Principal Secretary of the State Department for MSMEs, Hon. Susan Mang’eni, called for the MSME Fair calendar to be synchronized with the EAC Heads of State Summit to elevate MSME outcomes to the highest decision-making platforms. She urged partner states to expose their entrepreneurs to more regional trade fairs, boosting intra-EAC trade and creating a supportive ecosystem for enterprise growth.
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Hon. Dr. Wycliffe Oparanya, Principal Secretary of the State Department for MSMEs, Hon. Susan Mang’eni, Executive Director International Trade Center Ms. Pamela Coke-Hamilton, AfCFTA Secretary General H.E. Wamkele Mene, giving their remarks during the official opening ceremony of the 25th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair.
MSEA Board Chair, Mr. James Mureu, applauded the Trade Fair for showcasing East Africa’s ingenuity and emphasized that sustainable growth for MSMEs comes through quality, professionalism, and collaboration. He encouraged entrepreneurs to leverage regional opportunities, embrace innovation, and build partnerships that expand market reach across East Africa. Board Director Mr. Felix Chege urged MSMEs to register on the Africa Trade Gateway (ATG) platform recently launched by Dr. Oparanya, which integrates five key solutions MANSA, PAPSS, TRADAR Club, ATEX, and Trade Connect to enhance market access, digital trade, financing, and capacity development, further supporting Kenya’s BETA agenda.
MSEA Board Chair, Mr. James Mureu, Board Director Mr. Felix Chege giving their remarks during the Kenya Day Celebrations at the 25th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair.
The 25th EAC MSME Trade Fair also highlighted the growth of intra-regional trade, which reportedly grew by 27% from USD 14.2 billion in June 2024 to USD 18 billion in June 2025. At the same time, EAC’s total trade with the rest of the world rose by 22%, from USD 115.4 billion to USD 140.8 billion, signaling the increasing competitiveness and global relevance of East African businesses. Leaders emphasized that MSMEs remain central to economic growth and regional integration, with calls for stronger support to help them thrive.
The closing ceremony, officiated by CS Oparanya, was a moment of reflection and renewed commitment to East Africa’s entrepreneurial future. He underscored that unlocking youth entrepreneurship is critical to addressing rising unemployment and that all stakeholders must work together to create an enabling environment for MSMEs to thrive. The EAC Secretary-General, H.E. Veronica Nduva, praised Kenya for hosting the largest edition in the history of the Expo and reaffirmed the EAC Commission’s commitment to opening markets for MSMEs and supporting innovation, particularly under the AfCFTA framework, which offers access to a vast continental market.
As the curtains fell on the Trade Fair, CS Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Hon. Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya left attendees with a compelling message: “East Africa’s future is built by its innovators, its entrepreneurs, and its dreamers. Every small business, every creative idea, every young entrepreneur contributes to a region that is not only competitive but united in purpose. Let us empower our MSMEs, celebrate their achievements, and together, build an East Africa that is prosperous, resilient, and boundless in opportunity.”
Pictorial highlights of MSMEs exhibitors during the 25th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair.
