The Association was established by prominent East African business organizations and British founding members in 1964. Three years later, in 1967, the area covered by of the Association was extended at the request of several companies operating in Mauritius. In the following years, Seychelles, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Burundi and Rwanda were also within the scope of the Association.
As of today, it has more than 300 members from different countries, representing various industries such as banking, insurance, manufacturing, trade, mining, agriculture, logistics, printing, oil and others. The members include both large multinationals and small companies from the United Kingdom, Europe, USA, South Africa, India, and now, Hungary.
The Association is an excellent starting point for those companies that intend to launch their business in East Africa.
The primary goal of the Association is to help the participation of overseas corporations, enterprises and private persons in the development of East Africa and the Indian Ocean region that results in the mutual satisfaction of both the members and the respective countries. In order to reach this goal the Association acts as a communication channel between the overseas corporations and the countries, as well as helps in understanding the goals and regulations of the respective countries and informs, in general, the governments on the views and needs of the overseas investors, potential investors or foreign enterprises.
Furthermore, the Association aims to represent and maintain the private investments in the countries where it operates. It cooperates with the respective governments in the promotion and marketing of new investments as well as helps its members to achieve a successful venture in such countries.
The Association prepares and sends regular reports to its members on the East African political and economic developments. It provides a proper forum for discussions of matters with mutual interest that affects foreign investors and businessmen and, acting as a communication channel, informs the respective governments on their views.
In addition to continuing discussions with the respective ministers, diplomats, senior officials to create a welcoming atmosphere, it also provides the possibility for meeting important persons arriving from East Africa. As a separate service, it provides professional advice for individuals and helps in indentifying the proper channels within the respective country’s ministries, their departments and administrative organizations and EU institutions in Brussels.
The Association organizes regular meetings in London, Nairobi, Kampala, Dar-es-Salaam and Kigali, where ministers and leading officials conduct personal discussions with the members.
The Association is an independent, non-political organization. Its operation is financed by the membership fees and revenues from its own small investments.
The Association is managed by the Chief Executive Officer (“C.E.O.”), who is elected by the Executive Committee. The C.E.O. frequently travels to East Africa. He has connections to British governmental departments, diplomats residing in London and other organizations having interest in African trade and investments.
Though its sister organization, the British European African Business Council the Association is a member of the European Business Council for Africa and the Mediterranean (EBCAM) and the C.E.O. regularly participates in the Council’s meetings. As a result, he has a connection with several Western European private organizations and maintains close relationship with the expert committees and organizations of the EU in all matters influencing African economic developments and industrial co-operation.
The Association has a permanent representative in Nairobi who has up-to-date information on the East African developments. He also acts as a permanent informal connection between the Kenyan government and the overseas interests represented by the Association. The activity in Kenya is coordinated by a local advisory committee. Its work includes regular informal meetings with the members‘ Kenyan representatives, discussions with government officials and ministers, as well as providing the most important information to the local offices of the members.
Permanent representatives also operate at Kampala, Dar-es-Salaam and Kigali with the same function in Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda. Honorary representatives work in other countries.
Mr. Péter Morenth, Deputy C.E.O.