The UK has launched a major push to deepen economic ties with East Africa, unveiling $105 million in new investments during the first-ever UK-East Africa Trade and Investment Forum (EATIF), held in London from May 21 to 22.

The forum marks a significant milestone in UK-Africa relations, bringing together senior government officials and business leaders from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania with British investors and companies.

Organized by DMA Invest and the East Africa Association in partnership with the UK Government, EATIF aims to fast-track private-sector partnerships and investment opportunities in high-impact sectors such as infrastructure, clean energy, agribusiness, healthcare, and manufacturing.

Among the headline announcements, British International Investment (BII), the UK’s development finance institution, and Standard Chartered Bank introduced a $100 million trade finance facility to support cross-border and local trade in Kenya and Tanzania.

The facility is expected to unlock over $450 million in trade volumes over its lifetime and will qualify for the 2X Challenge, an initiative focused on advancing gender equality and women’s economic empowerment in developing countries.

“This facility will make finance more accessible for businesses as well as increase the availability of vital goods and services,” said BII’s Managing Director and Head of Africa, Chris Chijiutomi.

“We’re not only supporting businesses that are the backbone of these economies, but also driving inclusive and sustainable growth, contributing to a more resilient and prosperous East African region.”

In a further move to accelerate clean mobility in Kenya, BII announced a $5 million investment into electric motorbike company ARC Ride.

The funds will support the deployment of 5,000 electric bikes and upgrades to battery-swapping infrastructure, expected to eliminate over 100,000 metric tons of CO₂ annually as they replace petrol-powered motorbikes.

Lord Collins, the UK Minister for Africa, led the British delegation at the summit and emphasized the long-term vision of the partnership.

“The UK is a long-term partner for long-term investment in East Africa,” he said. “This forum will showcase the best of East African business to British business and lay a pipeline of private sector investment between them.

This, combined with much-needed improvements to regulations and resilience, will lead to jobs and mutual growth in the future. We go far when we go together.”

From the East African side, senior officials highlighted their country’s commitment to strengthening ties with the UK and leveraging the forum for strategic development.

“We welcome the UK-East Africa Trade and Investment Forum 2025 as a platform to highlight Uganda’s vibrant trade and investment opportunities,” said Mwebesa Francis, Uganda’s Minister for Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

“By engaging with UK investors and partners, we aim to enhance our trade infrastructure, diversify our export markets, and drive sustainable development. We hope this forum will also explore ways to leverage trade and investment to accelerate progress towards our Ten-fold Growth Strategy, unlocking new opportunities for economic growth and development.”

Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, Principal Secretary of Kenya’s State Department for Investment Promotion, emphasized Kenya’s readiness for investment.

“Kenya provides Africa’s leading value proposition for private capital, with a great portfolio of opportunities in key sectors. We are proud to be part of the UK EATIF and welcome the regional focus that fosters economic integration.”

Delegations from the region included John Mwendwa, CEO of the Kenya Investment Authority; General Katumba Wamala, Uganda’s Minister for Works and Transport; and Msafiri Lameck Mbibo, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Tanzania’s Ministry of Minerals.

The UK Government expects the forum to serve as a launchpad for long-term partnerships, replicating the success of the West and Central Africa Forum (WCAF), which built a £1 billion investment pipeline over three years.

EATIF will be followed by a series of engagements designed to turn dialogue into deals, aligning private sector goals with public policy priorities.

UK government agencies such as UK Export Finance (UKEF) and BII are expected to play a key role.

UKEF, which expanded its exposure in West and Central Africa from £3 million to over £1.2 billion, aims to deliver similar growth in East Africa by offering financial tools that help businesses de-risk projects and access capital more easily.

With this inaugural forum, the UK has signaled a renewed commitment to becoming East Africa’s long-term investment partner, backing innovation, green growth, and regional trade integration.