Kigali — The US-based Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), Germany's Afrika-Verein and the French Council of Investors in Africa (CIAN) have announced their support to East Africa International Business Forum. The forum will be held in Kigali, Rwanda from October 29-30.

To be hosted by President Kagame who is the current chair of the East African Community (EAC), the forum is being organized by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) and the East African Business Council (EABC) with the support of the government of Rwanda.

The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA) is a non-profit, membership organisation of more than150 US companies dedicated to strengthening the commercial relationship between the US and Africa. Afrika- Verein is the leading German Business Association for German companies and institutions with business interests in African countries.

Conseil Francais des Investisseurs en Afrique (CIAN) is the French Council of Investors in Africa, a private sector organization, grouping more than 100 companies, with a presence in 49 African countries.

"An increasing number of U.S. companies continue to demonstrate an interest in the growing number of investment opportunities in Africa," CCA President and CEO Stephen Hayes said.

"Partnering with this esteemed group of organisations allows us to strengthen our support of reforms in the East Africa region, which will create a better investment climate and tackle the obstacles to increasing trade and financial flows," he added.

"The presence of U.S., German and French investors demonstrates the interest of global business and its growing appetite for an integrated East Africa," CBC Director General, Dr. Mohan Kaul said. "The three organisations and CBC together represent a huge number of Africa's leading investors - bringing together five of the G8 countries as well as India, Nigeria and South Africa. Their involvement will contribute to increasing investment in East Africa," he added.

Themed "East Africa: One Market One Destination," the forum will promote international private sector investment in the region as it creates a single market of 100 million citizens in East African Community.

The forum is a platform to showcase investment opportunities with the EAC.

The meeting will focus on practical steps which business and government can take together to drive the implementation of reforms. Critical issues will be energy, transport, trade and promoting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) development.

EAC investment promotion agencies will be showcasing priority investment projects to the prospective diverse investors from across the world.

In addition to heads of states, senior ministers and business leaders from the five countries, over 20 leading international business speakers have already confirmed their attendance, and delegates from 30 countries are expected to attend.