Kenya set to host 25th EAC MSME Trade Fair at Uhuru Gardens
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Dr Wycliffe Oparanya addressing the media ahead of the 25th EAC MSME Trade Fair at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi on November 5, 2025. Photo/Sande Onyango
Kenya is set to host the 25th East African Community (EAC) Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Trade Fair and Exhibition from Friday, November 7 to Sunday, November 16, 2025, at Uhuru Gardens, Nairobi.
Themed “25 Years of EAC Integration: Advancing Innovation and Regional Value Chains for Competitive MSMEs Towards Sustainable Development,” the event will bring together over 3,000 exhibitors from the region to showcase products and innovations that highlight East Africa’s diversity, creativity, and entrepreneurship.
Speaking during a press briefing in Nairobi on Wednesday, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya said the silver jubilee edition marks a significant milestone in regional cooperation and economic integration since the inaugural fair held in Arusha, Tanzania, in 1999.
“This event celebrates 25 years of EAC integration and the growth of MSMEs as engines of innovation, job creation, and shared prosperity across our region,” said Dr Oparanya.
The CS said the fair aligns with Kenya’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), noting that the MSME sector accounts for over 70 percent of total employment in the country. He added that the exhibition will also reaffirm Kenya’s commitment to regional integration under President William Ruto’s tenure as Chairperson of the Summit of EAC Heads of State.
“The trade fair coincides with President Ruto’s leadership of the EAC Summit and provides an opportunity to strengthen regional economic growth and inclusive development through trade,” he said.
Among the key highlights of the 10-day event will be the official launch of the International Trade Centre’s (ITC) new regional office in Nairobi, positioning Kenya as a hub for continental trade and MSME support.
The fair will also feature a ministerial roundtable with ITC and EAC ministers to discuss the domestication of the global MSMEs Call to Action and address persistent challenges such as Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs).
A regional symposium on innovation and value chain development for MSME competitiveness will also be held.
Dr Oparanya urged exhibitors to seize the opportunity to build strategic business partnerships and explore export markets beyond national borders.
“This platform allows our entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and expand their businesses across East Africa’s unified market of over 300 million consumers,” he said.
Kenya has extended an invitation to participants from all EAC Partner States and beyond, promising them not only a rich trade experience, but also a chance to enjoy Kenya’s diverse attractions--from Nairobi National Park to the beaches of the Coast.
“Together, let us use this platform to unlock the full potential of regional integration, harness the energy of our entrepreneurs, and reaffirm our shared commitment to a prosperous, inclusive, and united East African Community,” Dr Oparanya added.
