U.S.–East Africa Trade & Investment Forum

AmCham Business Summit 2026

Advancing Mutual Prosperity Through Trade & Investment

September 9–10, 2026 Windsor Hotel, Nairobi, Kenya
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800+
Delegates
30+
Countries
500+
B2B & B2G Meetings
7
High-Growth Sectors
$500M+
Investment Commitments

About the Summit

The Premier Platform for U.S.–East Africa Trade & Investment

Where Capital, Policy, and Enterprise Converge

The AmCham Business Summit is the region's leading convening for multilateral trade, investment, and policy dialogue. Built on a legacy of over $1 billion in investment commitments and 5,000+ delegates, the 2026 Summit is a deal-making platform anchored in investment, policy alignment, and measurable economic impact.

The 2026 edition arrives at a defining moment. As global supply chains realign, AGOA's future is debated, and Africa's integration under AfCFTA reshapes the regional trade landscape, the Summit brings together the decision-makers shaping the future.

Freedom 250 — 250 years of American independence

In Celebration of Freedom 250

As the United States marks 250 years of independence, American enterprise looks ahead to its next chapter. The Summit defines what that chapter looks like in East Africa: with trade built on mutual commercial interest, partnerships grounded in reciprocity, and investment driven by opportunity.

Program

Two Days. One Strategic Agenda.

Day One September 9, 2026
  • 07:00 – 08:40 Check-in + Networking + EXPO
  • Opening Segment
  • 08:40 – 09:40 Opening Remarks
  • Charting the U.S.–East Africa Commercial Relationship
  • 09:45 – 10:20 Advancing the U.S.–Kenya Trade and Investment Partnership
  • 10:20 – 10:30 AmCham – EY Economic Impact of American Tech Companies in Kenya
  • 10:30 – 10:50 Networking Break & Expo
  • Thematic Segment: Digital Economy
  • 10:50 – 11:30 Building East Africa’s Digital Economy: From Digital-First Reform to Regional Competitiveness
  • Health as an Industry
  • 11:35 – 11:45 Transforming Health Systems for Better Outcomes
  • 11:50 – 12:10 Delivering Universal Health Coverage
  • 12:15 – 13:00 Building East Africa’s Health Economy
  • 13:00 – 14:00 Networking Lunch + B2B Matchmaking + VIP Lunch
  • Concurrent Sessions: Choose One
  • 14:10 – 15:30
    • Breakout Room A: The Creative Industries – IP, Platforms, and Capital
    • Oak Room: The American Tech Stack Roundtable
    • Breakout Room B: US-Kenya Health Co-operation Framework Forum
    • Breakout Room C: Building the Digital Backbone of Kenya’s Health System
  • Thematic Segment: Critical Minerals
  • 15:40 – 16:00 Building Strategic Critical Mineral Partnerships: East Africa’s Role in Securing the Future of Global Supply Chains
  • 16:05 – 16:55 Building Critical Minerals Value Chains
  • 17:00 – 18:00 Networking Break + B2B Matchmaking
  • 18:00 – 20:30 Official Networking Reception
  • 19:00 – 20:30 Bullish Africa Investors Dinner (Invite Only)
Day Two September 10, 2026
  • Thematic Breakfast
  • 07:30 – 09:00 Thematic Breakfast A: Competition Law Roundtable
  • 08:00 – 09:00 Check-in + Networking + Expo
  • Opening Segment
  • 09:00 – 09:10 Kenya’s Investment Vision: Positioning the Nation as East Africa’s Gateway for Trade, Industry and Global Capital
  • AfCFTA and the U.S.–Africa Trade Relationship
  • 09:15 – 09:55 AfCFTA and the Investment Case for Regional Value Chains
  • 10:00 – 10:40 From Rules of Origin to Capital Flows: What Drives U.S. Investment Decisions?
  • 10:40 – 11:00 Networking Break + Expo
  • Concurrent Thematic Sessions: Choose One Track
  • 11:00 – 12:30
    • Oak Room: EAC Cross-Border Data Flows (CBDF) Forum
    • Breakout Room A: Manufacturing – East Africa’s Industrial Future
    • Breakout Room B: Energy & Infrastructure – Powering East Africa’s Growth
    • Breakout Room C: Agriculture - Building East Africa’s Next Agri-Biosciences Economy
  • 12:30 – 14:00 Networking Lunch + Structured B2B + Sector Deal Rooms
  • Investment Frameworks and Trade Finance
  • 14:10 – 14:20 Competing for Global Capital: East Africa’s Investment Proposition
  • 14:25 – 15:05 Positioning East Africa for Global Capital
  • 15:10 – 15:50 Building the Capital Architecture for Regional Growth
  • Closing Plenary
  • 15:55 – 16:20 From Dialogue to Delivery: The Next Chapter of the U.S.–East Africa Commercial Partnership
View the full programme →

7 High-Growth Sectors.
One Strategic Platform.

Seven high-impact sectors where strategic interests align for mutual prosperity.

Critical Minerals

East Africa's mineral endowment is fast becoming a strategic priority for global supply chain diversification. Unlocking its economic potential demands stronger investment linkages, a business environment that enables growth at scale, and supply chains structured for resilience and shared prosperity.

Digital Economy

East Africa's digital economy is expanding rapidly, propelled by advances in AI deployment, digital infrastructure, and the rise of tech-enabled businesses. Scaling that momentum demands the right investment and regulatory frameworks in data governance, digital trade provisions, and the role of U.S. technology companies in building the infrastructure layer that East Africa's digital integration requires.

Manufacturing

The Summit will explore how U.S. and East African businesses can collaborate to strengthen industrial capacity, expand exports, drive technology transfer, and develop sustainable manufacturing ecosystems that support long-term economic growth and regional competitiveness.

Health

The bilateral health agreement between the U.S. and East African countries have repositioned the health sector as a strategic commercial frontier. Investment opportunities in pharmaceutical manufacturing, digital health infrastructure, and health system financing are now bankable propositions.

Energy & Infrastructure

Renewable energy and infrastructure development are foundational to East Africa's industrial growth agenda. Closing the infrastructure gap, grid modernization, last-mile connectivity, and industrial power supply will require sustained private investment and innovative financing through PPPs and blended finance models.

Agriculture

Climate-smart agriculture, agri-tech, and value-added processing represent real commercial opportunities for U.S. investors, with export competitiveness into AfCFTA markets adding regional scale to what would otherwise be domestic plays.

Creative Industries

Africa's creative industries have emerged as a dynamic growth frontier. Driven by accelerating digital adoption, favorable demographics, and progressive policy reform, they are transitioning from fragmented activity into structured value chains with genuine scale under the right policy and financing conditions.

01 / 07

4 Forces Reshaping the Commercial Landscape

A container port on the East African coast — the trade infrastructure underpinning regional integration
01

Post-AGOA Trade Architecture

With AGOA's future under active negotiation, the Summit provides a structured forum to accelerate the transition toward a multilateral trade framework built on reciprocity, regulatory alignment, and long-term market access.

02

The AfCFTA Opportunity

Africa's integration under AfCFTA is unlocking a $3.4 trillion continental market. East Africa's strategic geographic position makes it the natural entry point for U.S. businesses seeking regional scale.

03

Financing Investment

Demand for U.S. investment in East Africa is consistent and growing. From USTDA, DFC, and EXIM Bank financing to blended finance and risk mitigation tools, the Summit focuses on improving the deal structuring and execution pipelines that turn investment intent into committed capital.

04

Critical Supply Chain Realignment

U.S. companies are actively redirecting investment toward trusted, resilient markets as global supply chains restructure. East Africa's strategic position and reform momentum make it a natural destination for that redirected capital.

Summit Objectives

Six Objectives. One Direction.

  1. Catalyze Investment at Scale

  2. Advance The U.S. East Africa Trade Agenda.

  3. Strengthen Public and Private Sector Collaboration.

  4. Unlock Financing and Deal Flow.

  5. Position East Africa as the Gateway to Our $3.4 Trillion Market.

  6. Deliver Measurable Outcomes

Get in Touch

Sponsorship & Partnerships

Derrick Vikiru
Membership & Partnerships Lead

Email: derrick@amcham.co.ke
Phone: +254 701 121 196

General Enquiries

American Chamber of Commerce Secretariat

Email: summit@amcham.co.ke
Phone: +254 (0) 709 207 000

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