Unlocking domestic capital to drive infrastructure development across the East African Community (EAC) is crucial for sustaining economic growth in the region.
The EAC faces an infrastructure deficit currently estimated at an annual $42 billion, for modernising transportation, energy, and communication systems. This is hindering efforts towards stronger regional integration.
During the 2025 East Africa Institutional Investors Forum held in Arusha, Tanzania recently, Standard Bank Group affiliates, Stanbic Bank Kenya, Stanbic Bank Uganda and Stanbic Bank Tanzania together with institutional investors, policymakers and regulators discussed ways in which to mobilise alternative sources of finance.
The two-day forum focused on transitioning domestic capital from passive reserves into active investments in key strategic infrastructure projects.
Officially opening the discussions, Aime Uwase, the Director of Planning, at the EAC Secretariat said, “A robust infrastructure network is not only crucial, but also plays a foundational role in regional integration. Traditionally, much of our development funding has depended on external sources. However by unlocking domestic capital we not only diversify sources of funding, but also strengthen our economic resilience.”
Apart from hurting the EAC’s international competitiveness in attracting foreign investment, poor infrastructure also acts as a significant barrier to regional trade, increasing costs and limiting market access.
Highlighting the importance of the forum, Zoya Sisulu, Sector Head, Financial Institutions Group at Standard Bank said, “All the critical players in the East African market are here, including regulators, asset allocators and asset owners. All these role players are best placed to resolve the market challenges in support of driving the infrastructure theme which is important for the region going forward.”
Micheal Sseguya, Head of Financial Institutions Group, for Corporate and Investment Banking at Stanbic Bank Uganda said, “We are here to bring together institutional investors to talk about opportunities to diversify their investments beyond treasury bills and bonds and into commercial real estate, infrastructure, and large projects that are necessary for East African countries to develop.”
He said, “We had feedback from several investors in terms of what they consider as critical areas of investment. We also had feedback from regulators and other different players in this space. This is crucial for us to chart the path we are going to follow; hopefully to encourage and support our governments in East Africa to direct new flows of capital into this space.”
