PROGRAMME
DAY 1: WEDNESDAY, 21 MAY 2025 | MAIN FORUM
09:00 – 09:15
Welcome and Opening Remarks
- Kate Osamor UK Trade Envoy for East Africa, HM Government
- Simon Tonge, Managing Director, DMA Invest
- Agnes Gitau, Executive Director, UK & EU, Eastern Africa Association
HM Government
MP
DMA Invest
Job Title
Eastern Africa Asociation
Executive Director
Organisation
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09:15 – 10:00
Ministerial Fireside Chat: Priority Sectors and Development Plans
Chair: John Humphrey, HM Trade Commissioner for Africa
A high-level Davos-style discussion with lead ministers from Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania on National Development Agendas and Priority Sectors
- Hon. Abubakar Hassan Abubakar CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Investment Promotion, Government of Kenya
- Hon. Gen. Edward Katumba-Wamala, Minister for Works and Transport, Government of Uganda
- Hon. Msafiri Lameck Mbibo, Deputy Permanent Secretary Ministry of Minerals, Government of Tanzania
Department for Investment, Government of Kenya
Principal Secretary
Government of Uganda
Minister of Industry, Trade and Cooperatives
Government of Tanzania
Director of International Trade and Economic Diplomacy
HM Government
HM Trade Commissioner for Africa
10:00 – 10:45
Fireside Chat on the UK Government Offer
The UK’s investment and trade support mechanisms for East Africa with BII, UKEF, DBT, TheCityUK and the BCC share insights on financing solutions, risk mitigation, and strategic partnerships to enhance UK-East Africa trade and investment.
Chair: Dr Alex Vines OBE, Director, Africa Programme, Chatham House
- Vomic Nur Shah, Head of Global Business Origination and Client Coverage, UK Export Finance
- Seema Dhanani, Head of Office, Kenya and East Africa Coverage, British International Investment (BII)
- Helen King, Economic Development and Partnerships Director, FCDO
- Chika Muorah, Associate Director, Eurasia, Middle East and Africa, TheCityUK
- Augustine Makoni, Chief Financial Officer, Private Infrastructure Development Group
UK Export Finance
Head of Global Business Origination and Client Coverage
British International Investment (BII)
Head of Office – Kenya, Coverage Director – East Africa Coverage
FCDO
Economic Development and Partnerships Director
TheCityUK
Associate Director, Eurasia, Middle East and Africa
Chatham House
Director – Africa Programme
10:45 – 11:15
REFRESHMENTS & NETWORKING BREAK
11:15 – 11:30
Spotlight on Access to Healthcare
Janet Rogan, former COP26 Regional Ambassador Middle East and Africa & former CEO, Royal African Society in conversation with Kaedi Khama, Head of Business Development for Africa, International Hospitals Group.
Fmr. UK Cop 26 Ambassador, For. Director of the Royal African Society
Organisation
Job Title
Organisation
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Organisation
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11:30 – 12:30
Country Session: Kenya
A focused session on Kenya’s investment climate, sectoral opportunities, and policy initiatives including Infrastructure, Financial Services and Fintech, Industrialisation, Green growth and the digital economy.
Panel introduced by Amb. Catherine Kirumba Karemu, Kenya High Commission to the UK
Chaired by Leigh Stubblefield, Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya
- Hon. Abubakar Hassan Abubakar CBS, Principal Secretary, State Department for Investment Promotion, Government of Kenya
- Hon. Regina Akoth Ombam, Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade, Government of Kenya
- Emma Thomas, Co-Head, Global Business Origination – Africa, Americas & EECAN, UK Export Finance
- John Mwendwa OGW, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Investment Authority
State Department for Trade, Kenya
Principal secretary
UK Export Finance
Co-Head, Global Business Origination
Kenya Investment Authority
Chief Executive Officer
Department for Investment
Principal Secretary
Deputy British High Commissioner to Kenya
12:30 – 13:30
NETWORKING LUNCH
13:30 – 14:30
Country Session: Uganda
Exploring Uganda’s economic landscape, priority investment sectors, and business environment including focus on Infrastructure and Industrial Parks, Renewable Energy, Agro-industrialisation and Financial Services.
Panel introduced by H.E. Nimisha J. Madhvani, Uganda High Commissioner to the UK
Chaired by H.E Lisa Chesney MBE, British High Commissioner to Uganda
- Isaac Kahara, Country Head – East Africa, UK Export Finance
- Robert Mukiza, Director General, Uganda Investment Authority
- Jenifer Bamuturaki, Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Airlines
- Hon. Gen. Edward Katumba-Wamala, Minister for Works and Transport, Government of Uganda
Government of Uganda
Minister of Industry, Trade and Co-operatives
UK Export Finance
Country Head – East Africa, UK Export Finance
Uganda Airlines
Chief Executive
British High Commissioner to Uganda
Uganda Investment Authority
Director General
Uganda High Commissioner to the UK
14:30 – 15:30
Country Session: Tanzania
An in-depth discussion on Tanzania’s market potential, key growth sectors driving investment, including Energy, Infrastructure, the Blue Economy, Tourism, Financial Services and Critical Minerals.
Panel Introduced by H.E Mbelwa Kairuki, Tanzania High Commissioner to the UK
Chaired by Vicky Seymour, Head of East Africa Department, FCDO
- Francois Pannetier, Regional Head – Africa, Origination and Client Coverage, UK Export Finance
- Gilead J Teri, Executive Director, Tanzania Investment Centre
- Hilu Bura, Governance & Compliance Director, Mecco Limited
- Saleh Saad Mohamed, Executive Director, Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA)
UK Export Finance
Africa, Origination and Client Coverage, UK Export Finance
Tanzania Investment Centre
Executive Director
Mecco Limited
Governance & Compliance Director
FCDO
Head of East Africa Department
Tanzania High Commissioner to the UK
15:30 – 15:45
The UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Commitment to East Africa
Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa), Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office
FCDO
Parliamentary Under Secretary of State (Africa)
Organisation
Job Title
Organisation
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15:45 – 16:45
Access to Capital
A panel discussion exploring the diverse landscape of financing available to SME’s and macro and micro enterprises with a focus on private, state and non-state sources of capital. The discussion will cover concessional finance, export credit, insurance solutions, guarantee mechanisms, and dedicated growth funds. Panelists will examine the role of financial instruments in unlocking access to capital across various business sizes and sectors, highlighting innovative approaches to bridging financing gaps and supporting sustainable enterprise development.
Chair: John Humphrey, HM Trade Commissioner for Africa, DBT
- Mary Porter Peschka, Regional Director for Eastern Africa, International Finance Corporation
- Sunita Koch, Deputy Head – Strategic Sectors, UK Export Finance
- Stephen Head, Export and Agency Finance, Investec
- Mikir Shah, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Africa Specialty Risks
- Ross Ferguson, Senior Private Sector Advisor, MOBILIST, FCDO
IFC
Regional Director for Eastern Africa
UK Export Finance
Deputy Head-Strategic Sectors
Investec
Export and Agency Finance
Africa Specialty Risks
Founder & CEO
MOBILIST, FCDO
Senior Private Sector Advisor
HM Trade Commissioner for Africa
16:45 – 17:00
Closing Remarks and Vote of Thanks
Lord Valentine Cecil, Chairman, Eastern Africa Association
Atam Sandhu, Chief Executive Officer, DMA Invest
Summary of key takeaways and the way forward for UK–East Africa trade and investment relations.
Eastern Africa Association
Chairman
DMA Invest
Chief Executive
17:00 – 18:00
Gala Reception
A High-level informal networking opportunity for participants.
19:00 – 22:00
VIP Dinner (By Invitation Only)
An exclusive gathering for high-level government officials, business leaders, and key stakeholders to conclude the forum.
DAY 2: THURSDAY, 22 MAY 2025
09:00 – 10:45
Impact Investment Roundtable: Investing in Kenya
Panel introduced by Ms. Sylvia Musyoka, Trade Attaché, Kenya High Commission London
Presentation of bankable projects by Kenya Investment Authority
Presentation of Nairobi International Financial Centre as a premier financial hub in Africa
Chair: Kamal Shah, Partner, Stephenson Harwood and Eastern Africa Association Board
- John Mwendwa OGW, Chief Executive Officer, Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest)
- Daniel Mainda, Chief Executive Officer, Nairobi International Financial Centre
- Mikir Shah, Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Africa Specialty Risks
Stephenson Harwood and Board Member EAA
Partner
Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest)
Chief Executive Officer
Nairobi International Financial Centre
Chief Executive Officer
British High Commissioner to Uganda
Uganda Investment Authority
Director General
Uganda High Commissioner to the UK
10:45 – 12:00
Post-roundtable Meetings & Networking Coffee
A focused discussion on Kenya’s dynamic business landscape, infrastructure development, and opportunities in manufacturing, finance, and green energy.
11:00 – 12:45
Impact Investment Roundtable: Investing in Uganda
Chair: Agnes Gitau, Executive Director, East Africa Association – UK & EU
- H.E Nimisha Madhvani, Uganda High Commissioner to the UK, Government of Uganda
- Hon Gen. Edward Wamala, Minister for Works and Transport, Government of Uganda
- Jenifer Bamuturaki, Chief Executive Officer, Uganda Airlines
- Robert Mukiza, Director General, Uganda Investment Authority
East Africa Association – UK & EU
Executive Director
Uganda High Commission, UK & Ireland
Commercial and Economic Affairs
Uganda Airlines
Director General
FCDO
Director General
12:45 – 14:00
A deep dive into Uganda’s priority investment areas, regulatory environment, and growth industries such as agribusiness, energy, and technology
POST ROUNDTABLE AND NETWORKING LUNCH
14:00 – 15:45
Impact Investment Roundtable: Investing in Tanzania
Chair: Jeremy Lefroy, Chair, EF Africa
- Gilead J Teri, Executive Director, Tanzania Investment Centre
- Hilu Bura, Governance & Compliance Director, Mecco Limited
- H.E Mbelwa Kairuki, Tanzania High Commissioner to United Kingdom, Government of Tanzania
- Saleh Saad Mohamed, Executive Director, Zanzibar Investment Promotion Agency (ZIPA)
Tanzania Investment Centre
Executive Director
Government of Tanzania
Assistant Commissioner Mineral Beneficiation and Valuation Addition
Mecco
Governance & Compliance Director
EF Africa
Chair
15:45 – 17:00
Post-roundtable Meetings & Networking Lunch
An interactive session with policymakers, investors, and industry leaders, exploring Tanzania’s investment climate, manufacturing, agribusiness, renewable energy and emerging opportunities in key sectors.
17:00 – 19:00
PRIVATE SECTOR RECEPTION
A final gathering to conclude the forum, reflecting on key insights, fostering last-minute connections, and solidifying partnerships to drive future UK–East Africa trade and investment collaborations.