Event report
East Africa UNLOCK: Trade & Treasury Summit 2026
A day of practical insights on trade, treasury, digital infrastructure and the future of business growth in East Africa.
We were pleased to partner with MERGE for the East Africa UNLOCK: Trade & Treasury Summit 2026, bringing together business leaders, finance professionals, investors and regional experts for a full day of discussions on trade, treasury and growth across East Africa.
Under the theme “Beyond Borders: Scaling Trade, Tech and Talent in East Africa,” the summit explored how businesses can navigate a changing regional landscape shaped by currency volatility, digital transformation, infrastructure needs, financing gaps and evolving regulation.
The discussions highlighted the importance of building stronger foundations for regional trade, from improving access to finance for SMEs to strengthening treasury operations, adopting new payment technologies and investing in sovereign digital infrastructure.
Key Highlights
The first session, Financing Innovation & Inclusive Growth in East Africa, focused on the financing challenges facing SMEs. Speakers emphasised that while capital exists, many businesses still need stronger governance, clearer financial structures, reliable market data and better project preparation to become truly finance-ready.
The summit also explored how companies are shaking up treasury and trade, with discussions on real-time cash visibility, payment automation, stablecoins and the need for faster, more secure cross-border settlement solutions. Compliance, trust and regulatory clarity were identified as essential for wider adoption.
A dedicated panel on Building Sovereign Tech examined East Africa’s ability to build, own and scale its own digital infrastructure. Speakers discussed data centres, cloud infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital identity and the need for harmonised regional regulations to help fintechs and businesses scale beyond national borders.
The Treasury Unlocked: The Next Level session highlighted the changing role of treasury from a back-office function to a strategic business partner. Panellists discussed FX risk, liquidity management, capital repatriation, AI-enabled treasury tools and the importance of compliance across different markets.
Key Takeaways
SMEs need more than funding: they require structure, compliance, governance, mentorship and access to reliable market opportunities.
Treasury is becoming strategic: finance teams must play a stronger role in decision-making, risk management and regional expansion.
Technology can unlock growth: stablecoins, AI, digital identity and local digital infrastructure can support faster trade and more efficient operations.
Regional harmonisation is essential: aligned regulation, interoperable systems and cross-border trust will be key to scaling East African businesses.
The summit served as a valuable platform to connect public and private sector perspectives, with a shared focus on building a more resilient, integrated and future-ready business environment for East Africa.
We warmly thank MERGE, all speakers, partners and participants who contributed to this insightful edition of East Africa UNLOCK.
