The Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum 2026 is scheduled for Monday, 4 May 2026, at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Centre (JNICC) in Dar es Salaam, bringing together policymakers, financiers, and private sector players to discuss trade and investment flows between the two economies.
The forum runs from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM under the theme “Unlocking Private Sector Growth and Investment”, with discussions set across infrastructure, energy, financial services, digital innovation, agriculture, manufacturing, and maritime sectors. The meeting is expected to draw government agencies, exporters, investors, and development partners.
Institutional participation and private sector representation
The Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum 2026 participants include regional investment promotion agencies and private sector bodies from both countries. These include the Tanzania Investment and Special Economic Zones Authority (TISEZA), Kenya Investment Authority (Invest Kenya), Tanzania Private Sector Federation (TPSF), Kenya Private Sector Alliance (KEPSA), and the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI).
KCB Bank is also participating as part of the financial sector delegation, with banking institutions expected to play a central role in discussions on trade finance, cross-border payments, and digital banking infrastructure.
Registration for stakeholders has been channelled through the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (Make It Kenya), with confirmations directed via KOluoch@brand.ke or phone contact 0714 706 858.
Banking Sector Focus and Agenda
The financial services segment is expected to feature prominently, with banks positioned as intermediaries for trade expansion and capital movement across East Africa. The Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum 2026 banking partners are expected to include regional lenders active in cross-border financing, payment systems, and SME credit expansion.
Key discussion areas for the banking track include:
- Cross-border payment interoperability, with attention on the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System (PAPSS), aimed at enabling local currency settlement and reducing reliance on the US dollar.
- Trade finance and MSME support, focusing on expanding credit tools for agriculture and manufacturing supply chains.
- Digital finance and fintech development, including mobile money integration, AI-based credit scoring, and regulatory approaches to virtual asset service providers.
- Regulatory alignment, with attention on anti-money laundering frameworks and policy coordination between the Central Bank of Kenya and the Bank of Tanzania, particularly in relation to evolving foreign exchange controls.
Banking Speakers Expected at the Forum
Speakers from the banking sector at the Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum 2026 will include Paul Russo, Chief Executive Officer of KCB Group; Dr. James Mwangi, Chief Executive Officer of Equity Group; Annastacia Kimtai, Managing Director of KCB Bank Kenya; and Emmanuel Tutuba, Governor of the Bank of Tanzania.
Their discussions are expected to focus on the role of banks in enabling cross-border trade, managing liquidity flows, and scaling digital financial infrastructure across East Africa.
Expected outcomes of the Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum 2026
The outcomes of the Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum 2026 are expected to centre on practical financing and trade facilitation mechanisms between the two countries. Among the key expected outcomes are bilateral investment agreements between Kenyan banks and Tanzanian infrastructure and mining projects, alongside discussions on the formation of a joint business council to streamline financing channels for large-scale regional projects.
Policy conversations are also expected to target lower transaction costs through increased use of local currencies in cross-border settlements, reducing foreign exchange exposure for regional businesses.
Expected Effects on the Banking Sectors following the Tanzania-Kenya Business Forum 2026
In Kenya, commercial banks such as KCB, Equity, and NCBA are expected to continue expanding their regional footprint, with increasing focus on digital platforms that support cross-border payments and trade finance. Kenyan lenders have already increased their exposure to Tanzanian markets, where operations have contributed a growing share of regional earnings.
In Tanzania, the banking sector is expected to experience increased liquidity support as domestic currency settlement policies gain traction. The Bank of Tanzania’s push for Tanzanian Shilling–based domestic transactions is aimed at stabilising currency use within the local economy while attracting greater participation from international and regional banks.
Across both markets, harmonisation of anti-money laundering standards and expansion of digitised savings and credit cooperative organisations (SACCOs) is expected to deepen financial inclusion and widen access to formal financial services.
The forum is expected to position banking institutions not only as lenders but also as infrastructure enablers for trade and investment flows across East Africa’s private sector economy.
Jefferson Wachira is a writer at Africa Digest News, specializing in banking and finance trends, and their impact on African economies.