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About

The Engine of Africa's Economic Growth: Investment & Entrepreneurship

In October 2024, the ICOA Investment Convention & Trade Expo comes to Boston, where the future is shaped and dreams come alive. Across four days in America's vibrant city, we will convene the most successful, innovative, and impact-minded entrepreneurs and leaders from around the continent and around the globe.

The African continent is home to the world's youngest population and greatest growth market, ripe for catalyzing entrepreneurial capitalism at-scale. Event programming will focus on spotlighting Africa's greatest business stories and biggest opportunities, and on the investors and founders who are forging new paths forward. 

Our Mission & Goals

Our Mission

ICOA's mission is to provide a platform for businesses and manufacturers in the East African Community (EAC) member countries to connect with potential clients and partners in the United States. We believe that trade is the key to sustainable development in Africa, and we are committed to helping businesses from both regions build relationships and create shared prosperity.



Our Goals

Our goals for the 2024 ICOA Investment Convention & Trade Expo are:

    To connect 120 businesses from the EAC countries with 80 policymakers, technocrats, and government officials from the USA.

    To provide opportunities for knowledge sharing on quality standards and trade systems.

    To facilitate the creation of new supply chain partnerships within the EAC.

    To engage governments and businesses in both the USA and the EAC countries on opening up new trade opportunities.


                  

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Why Attend?

 If you are a business or government official from the EAC looking to expand your reach into the US market, then the ICOA Investment Convention & Trade Expo is the event for you. Attending will give you the opportunity to:

  •     Meet with potential clients and partners from the USA.
  •     Learn about the latest trends in the US market.
  •     Gain insights into US quality standards and regulations.
  •     Network with other businesses and government officials from the EAC.

We believe that the ICOA Investment Convention & Trade Expo will be a transformative event for businesses and governments from both the USA and the EAC. We encourage you to join us in Boston in July 2024 and be part of the journey. 

With the right policies and investments, Africa can emerge as a key player in global value chains and contribute significantly to the world's manufacturing output. By promoting value-added manufacturing, African countries can create sustainable dignified job opportunities and generate higher incomes. For decades African nations have been grappling with how to break this cycle of economic stagnation, and the solution may lie in the promotion of industrialization, reliance on intra-African trade, and value-added manufacturing