Equity Group has concluded a week-long Trade and Investment Mission to Tanzania and Uganda, aimed at unlocking trade and investment potential in the region’s rapidly growing markets. The mission, part of the Group’s Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), brought together over 50 investors from Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and Europe to explore regional opportunities and strengthen value chains.
Organized in partnership with Equity Bank Tanzania and Equity Bank Uganda, the mission featured panel discussions, B2B networking, government forums, and strategic site visits across key sectors including agribusiness, tourism, infrastructure, manufacturing, energy, and the blue economy.
“This mission is a strategic effort to connect global capital to local opportunities in Tanzania and Uganda. Our focus is on catalyzing investments that create jobs, enhance value chains, and drive inclusive growth,” said Dr. James Mwangi, Equity Group Managing Director and CEO.
In Tanzania, the delegation explored prospects in agro-processing, renewable energy, tourism, real estate, mining, and ICT, with key activities in Dar es Salaam and Zanzibar. In Uganda, attention centered on value addition, manufacturing, agri-tech, and technology-driven sectors like dairy, pharmaceuticals, and textiles.
Equity Bank Uganda Managing Director Gift Shoko described Uganda as a dynamic investment destination with a stable economy, abundant resources, and investor-friendly reforms, noting that the mission showcased tangible investment opportunities with local and global relevance.
Evelyn Anite, the State Minister of Finance (Investment & Privatisation), emphasized the importance of intra-African trade, noting that Uganda’s agenda prioritizes eliminating non-tariff trade barriers to enhance regional commerce.
She stressed that investors are viewed as key partners in advancing national development, and the government is fully committed to supporting them in line with the President’s strategic goals.
Anite also highlighted the government’s close collaboration with Equity Bank on various programs, including the Parish Development Model (PDM).
She encouraged investors to consider opportunities in value addition—especially in sectors like iron ore and coffee—pointing out that those investing more than USD 10 million are eligible for land, non-tax incentives, and further assistance to ensure their ventures succeed.
The mission builds on the success of past Equity-led initiatives in Kenya, DRC, Rwanda, India, South Africa, the US, and Belgium, which have mobilized significant investment, supported regional integration, and facilitated implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Equity is a formal partner of the East African Community (EAC) in advancing a unified market.
Under ARRP, Equity Group is redirecting liquidity worth 2% of the region’s GDP to priority sectors such as agriculture, MSMEs, infrastructure, and manufacturing, with a target of reaching 100 million people and creating up to 50 million jobs by 2030.
“This mission reflects the region’s commitment to collaborating with the private sector to attract investment, drive industrialization, and build resilient economies,” said a Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) representative.
