The Dawoodi Bohra community of Kenya successfully concluded the first-ever Africa Trade Expo 2025 (ATE 2025), transforming the grounds of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa into a vibrant hub of commercial activity and international exchange. The three-day event, running from August 8th to 10th, brought together exhibitors and buyers from around the world, unlocking new trade opportunities while powerfully showcasing East Africa’s economic potential.
The expo attracted 6625 visitors and 225 exhibitors across eight strategic sectors, with Information Technology, Manufacturing, and Industrial Solutions leading participation at 57 exhibitors. Tourism and Hospitality followed with 36 exhibitors, while Real Estate, Construction and Infrastructure represented 35 exhibitors.
ATE2025 featured 225 exhibitors across eight strategic sectors: real estate, manufacturing, construction materials, healthcare and services, information technology and innovation, green energy and sustainability, agribusiness and fast-moving consumer goods, and home and interiors.
Fifty of the exhibitors are small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), highlighting the region’s growing entrepreneurial spirit and diversity.
Speaking at the event, Shabbir Nomani, Chairman of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Nairobi, remarked, “We are proud to celebrate the spirit of entrepreneurship here today, where businesses of all sizes have been given a platform to seize new possibilities and forge paths to greater success.”
“For the Dawoodi Bohras, faith and business values are welded together by principles that champion fair dealings and collective progress, ” he added.
Moiz Hassanali, Project Coordinator for ATE2025, said, “East Africa stands among Africa’s most dynamic and rapidly developing regions. With this Expo, we aimed to inspire entrepreneurs to harness our region’s youthful population as well as the diverse and expanding infrastructure for collective growth and prosperity.”
East Africa’s Economic MomentumCountries including Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania continue to demonstrate robust GDP growth, positioning East Africa as one of the world’s fastest-growing economic regions. This expansion has fostered a burgeoning middle class, driving demand for high-quality goods and services.
The Dawoodi Bohra community, with deep business roots across East Africa, has actively participated in and shaped this economic transformation. Bohras have established enterprises in sectors ranging from real estate and manufacturing to technology and trade services, which have created job opportunities, contributed to skills development, and promoted entrepreneurial growth within the region.
The Expo celebrated Bohra businesses and highlight strengthening intra-regional trade, as Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania further cement their positions as each other’s top trading partners. Growing investment in border efficiency and regional transport networks is actively reducing costs and accelerating business operations. Supported by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), businesses in East Africa now enjoy improved access to a market of over 400 million people through increased intra-African trade.
Comprehensive Business Platform ATE2025 provided a comprehensive business platform, uniting key investors, government delegates and industry leaders. Exhibitors and attendees will benefit from tailored matchmaking services, fostering valuable partnerships, client connections and collaborations.
Throughout the event, participants engaged in product exhibitions, networking sessions, influential panel discussions and numerous deal-making opportunities across all sectors. The event is specifically designed to drive business growth by providing direct access to qualified leads from key markets across East Africa and beyond.
Murtaza Ebrahimjee of Ebrahimjee and Mutai Advisory, showing his business at the Expo shared, “The Expo offered us a direct platform to engage with dynamic entrepreneurs across East Africa. We’re thrilled by the opportunities for collaboration and expansion that the event has provided, and proud to contribute to the region’s industrial progress through quality manufacturing solutions.”
