NAIROBI, Kenya — Hundreds of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the East African Community (EAC) are set to gain direct access to capital and regional buyers at TradeMatch 2026, a major private-sector-led commercial initiative taking place in Nairobi this November.
Organized by Lion Brick Capital (lbc) Global , the two-day EAC SMEs Tradematch and Financing program is scheduled for 18–19 November 2026. Deliberately structured as an action-oriented matchmaking and financing platform, the initiative is designed to bypass generalized dialogue in favor of tangible commercial and investment outcomes.
The program will facilitate curated, high-value bilateral meetings for over 600 SMEs, bridging supply and demand gaps across the EAC bloc. A dedicated exhibition pavilion will also allow businesses to showcase their products and services directly to regional distributors, buyers, and strategic partners.
A central pillar of TradeMatch 2026 is its focus on financial inclusion. More than 200 pre-vetted, high-potential enterprises will be directly connected to a curated roster of commercial banks, impact investors, and development finance institutions. To ensure these businesses are investment-ready, the program features a comprehensive “Financial Readiness” track, equipping entrepreneurs with essential skills in financial structuring, corporate governance, and bankability.
“This initiative represents a strategic convergence of capital, commerce, and cross-border collaboration,” said Adan Hussein Duale, Chair and President of Lion Brick Capital LBC Global . “Sustainable economic integration in East Africa relies fundamentally on empowering its smallest businesses. TradeMatch 2026 is not about talking; it is about closing deals, securing funding, and removing the practical bottlenecks that hinder cross-border trade.”
In addition to direct matchmaking, the program will host closed-door, high-level stakeholder discussions. These focused roundtables will bring together financial regulators, policymakers, and SME aggregators to develop actionable frameworks that address systemic challenges in regional trade and financing.
Priority sectors for this year’s program include agriculture and agro-processing, green energy and climate-smart solutions, women-led enterprises, light manufacturing, ICT and digital innovations, logistics, and the creative industries.
As the EAC continues to push for deeper economic integration, initiatives like TradeMatch 2026 highlight a growing shift toward private-sector-driven solutions aimed at transforming the region’s entrepreneurial landscape into a globally competitive market.