Trade Without Friction: Connecting East African Trade and Logistics Corridors

A Global Chamber® Event Ahead of Africa Forward 2026

This globinar featured a keynote address by Ndeye Babou, CEO of LUUMA Africa, offering regional and global perspectives on logistics, technology transformation, trade facilitation, and corridor optimization across East Africa.

The event was moderated by Moses Koyabe, Global Advisor for Global Chamber® Mombasa, guiding a structured and practical dialogue focused on real-world challenges and solutions. Our event was planned and executed by Global Chamber® Mombasa, in collaboration with Global Chamber® Africa.

“Trade Without Friction: Connecting East African Trade and Logistics Corridors” A pre-event ahead of Africa Forward 2026

Link to the event and background: HERE

The session brought together global trade and logistics leaders to explore how East African trade corridors can become more efficient, connected, and scalable in a rapidly evolving global economy. And it included discussion of opportunities for leaders in the region.

Link to the recording: COMING SOON

A Strategic Conversation at the Right Time

This Globinar was positioned as a strategic warm-up to Africa Forward 2026, the Africa–France Partnerships for Innovation and Growth Summit, which will take place in Nairobi on May 11–12, 2026. More HERE

With participation from heads of state, policymakers, and private sector leaders, Africa Forward 2026 will spotlight the future of France–Africa economic cooperation and large-scale investment collaboration across continents.

Our Globinar served as an early-stage platform to:

• Surface real trade and logistics challenges in East Africa
• Identify opportunities for cross-border efficiency
• Bring together stakeholders shaping the future of regional trade corridors
• Build relationships that extend into Africa Forward and beyond

Outline

The conversation followed a structured format designed for clarity and impact:

• Ground realities of logistics in East Africa
• Structural limits of traditional logistics systems
• The role of digital transformation and data-driven trade flows
• Innovative approaches to reducing friction in cross-border logistics
• Open Q&A and participant engagement

Each segment highlighted both the barriers and the emerging solutions shaping the future of regional and intercontinental trade.

Why It Matters

East Africa is emerging as a key logistics and trade corridor between Africa, Europe, and global markets. However, inefficiencies in coordination, visibility, and infrastructure continue to create friction in cross-border trade.

This Globinar reinforced a clear message:

The future of trade is not only about movement—it is about intelligence, connection, and collaboration.

By convening stakeholders early, Global Chamber® continues to help shape the conversations that will define major global summits like Africa Forward 2026.

Africa Forward

The insights and relationships developed during this session will continue to evolve as we approach May 2026, with a focus on:

• Strengthening East Africa–Europe trade dialogue
• Supporting logistics innovation and digital transformation
• Building trusted cross-border partnerships
• Advancing practical outcomes from summit-level discussions