(Nairobi/Geneva) – The International Trade Centre (ITC) and Equity Group Holdings PLC signed a memorandum of understanding to drive inclusive, commercially viable economic development across East Africa, starting with Kenya. The agreement targets three high-potential sectors: coffee, leather and creative industries, with an explicit mandate to scale.
The deal pairs ITC’s global trade development expertise with Equity Group’s pan-African financial infrastructure and its Africa Recovery and Resilience Plan (ARRP), a six-pillar regional growth strategy spanning food and agriculture, manufacturing, micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), technology and social impact investments.
Equity Group operates banking subsidiaries in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan, Uganda and the United Republic of Tanzania.
ITC Executive Director Pamela Coke-Hamilton said: “We know that access to finance is critical for small businesses – but it has to be matched with the right skills to use it effectively. That’s why we’re partnering with Equity Bank – to ensure small businesses across East Africa can tap both financing and trade expertise to move up the value chain and compete in global markets, from leather to the creative industries.”
