The 19th East Africa Business Network conference kicked off, Friday, in Dallas Texas with innovation taking center stage as delegates deliberate on how to expand the growth opportunities for business between the diaspora and East Africa.
Arguably the oldest trade and investment convention, which began two decades ago as East Africa Chamber of Commerce, the annual conference brings together the business and government leaders, non-profit actors from different sectors, namely energy, manufacturing, education, healthcare, finance and agriculture, among others.
Benson Kasue, the founding president of the EABN, says the idea behind the conference is to create a marketplace where “business people and other actors can interact and explore opportunities”.
The opening day featured presentations and speeches by Irvin City Mayor Rick Stopfer, Uganda’s Ambassador to the United States Robie Kakonge, Rwanda’s deputy ambassador and the commercial attached from the Kenyan mission in Washington DC. Other speakers included representatives of the Kenyan and US business community.
Dozens of exhibitors drawn from the different sectors are showcasing their products and services, among them real estate and property developers Soil Merchants and money transfer gateway provider LeMFi, among others.
The three-day convention closes on Saturday, October 5th.
