The Dawoodi Bohra community of Kenya has successfully concluded the inaugural Africa Trade Expo 2025 (ATE2025), a three-day showcase linking global enterprises to East Africa’s booming economic opportunities.
Held from August 8 to 10 at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, the event transformed the venue into a vibrant hub of commercial exchange, attracting 6,625 visitors and 225 exhibitors worldwide. Participants represented eight key sectors, with Information Technology, Manufacturing, and Industrial Solutions leading the way with 57 exhibitors. Tourism and Hospitality followed with 36 exhibitors, while Real Estate, Construction, and Infrastructure sectors drew 35.
Half the exhibitors were small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), underlining the region’s entrepreneurial vitality. The sectors covered included real estate, manufacturing, construction materials, healthcare, information technology, green energy, agribusiness, fast-moving consumer goods, and home interiors.
Speaking at the closing, Shabbir Nomani, Chairman of the Dawoodi Bohra community in Nairobi, said,
“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.”
ATE2025 sought to harness East Africa’s economic momentum, with countries such as Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania registering strong GDP growth and expanding middle classes. Project Coordinator Moiz Hassanali noted that the expo aimed to inspire entrepreneurs to leverage the region’s youthful population and expanding infrastructure for collective growth.
The Dawoodi Bohra community has long been part of East Africa’s economic fabric, with enterprises spanning real estate, manufacturing, technology, and trade services. The Expo also celebrated strengthening intra-regional trade, boosted by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which opens access to a market of over 400 million people.
The event brought together investors, government officials, and industry leaders, offering tailored matchmaking services, networking sessions, panel discussions, and deal-making opportunities.
Exhibitors like Murtaza Ebrahimjee of Ebrahimjee and Mutai Advisory hailed the platform for enabling meaningful connections and advancing industrial growth.
With its successful debut, ATE2025 has positioned itself as a major catalyst for cross-border partnerships, investment, and trade in East Africa’s rapidly evolving business landscape.