April 17-20, 2026 | Arusha, Tanzania
SMEs Summit & Investment Expo 2026
A unique opportunity for business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors to connect, learn, and grow your business!
A unique opportunity for business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors to connect, learn, and grow your business!
The SMEs Summit & Investment Expo 2026 brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and government leaders to accelerate SME growth and foster Tanzania-USA trade linkages.
A unique opportunity for business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors to connect, learn, and grow your business!
Don’t miss this chance to expand your network and unlock investment opportunities!
Join our professional and transformational programs
Where you will:
Explore Tarangire & Ngorongoro!
Experience the wild. Embrace the culture. Create memories.
A unique opportunity for business owners, entrepreneurs, and investors to connect, learn, and grow your business!
Meet potential regional and international investors
Business Pitching & Investor-Ready Sessions
Participate in the SMEs Summit.
Date & Time
17th – 18th April 2026, 09:00 AM
Time shows in Africa/Dar es Salaam.
Arusha, Tanzania
Don’t miss this chance to expand your network and unlock investment opportunities!
Join a growing network of innovators, investors and industry leaders shaping the future of East African business.
Entrepreneurs
Investors
Speakers
Countries
Join an ecosystem designed to accelerate ideas, build partnerships, and unlock new opportunities for East African entrepreneurs and global investors.
The Investment Expo brings together key players shaping the future of business, innovation, and investment across Africa.
Four days of insightful sessions, networking, and cultural experiences
Day 1 Date : April 17, 2026
"What It Actually Takes to Build a Growth-Stage SME"
DR. JACQUELINE MKINDI
Founding CEO TAHA, Chairperson TAHA Companies
DR. JOE MZUANDA
Founder & CEO, Jambo Freight Co. — Tanzania
JASON BENEDICT
Senior Strategist, Regent Centre for Entrepreneurship — USA
LLOYD D. WARD
Founder & CEO, Ward Holdings International LLC- USA
JOYCE KIMARO
GIZ EAC [SEAMPEC Programme]
"How SMEs Can Practically Benefit from EAC, AfCFTA and Regional Market Access"
GILEAD J. TERI - Director General, TISEZA
DR. JACQUELINE MKINDI - Founding CEO TAHA, Chairperson TAHA Companies
HELLEN WILLIAM MOLLEL - Founder, East African Youth Awards [EAYA]
AHMED FARAH - Executive Director, East African Business Council [EABC]
Ministry of Foreign Affairs & East Africa Cooperation
International Trade Centre SheTrades Initiative (ITC)
"How SMEs Can Access Finance for Growth"
ELIBARIKI NDOSSI - CEO, Tanzania Mortgage Refinancing Company Ltd.
LAURA KAGINA - Advisor – GIZ EAC DR.
PETER KINGU - Head, Policy, SME Development and Inclusive Finance Financial Sector Deepening Tanzania [FSDT]
DR. IBRAHIM MWANGALABA - Former MD Maendeleo Bank PLC & CEO SMIGI Consulting
"Incubation, Mentorship and the Systems That Make SMEs Investable"
NOREEN TOROKA—Programme Coordinator for Women Entrepreneurship Development and Economic Empowerment, International Labour Organisation (ILO)
JASON BENEDICT - Senior Strategist, Regent Centre for Entrepreneurship — USA
LLOYD D. WARD - Founder & CEO, Ward Holdings International LLC – USA
DR. PETER KINGU - Head, Policy, SME Development and Inclusive Finance Financial Sector Deepening Tanzania [FSDT]
YUSUF SSESSANGA - Principal, Kingdom Leadership Institute (KLI) – Innovation Hub
Day 2 Date : April 18, 2026
"Two parallel tracks running simultaneously"
TRACK A — B2B Arranged Meetings
Moderators: Janice Kimaro, Dr. Edmond Lyatuu & Ms. Shalom Erasto Pre-arranged 20-minute business meetings between SMEs and
investors/buyers.Schedule distributed to participants by 17 April, 5:00 pm.
TRACK B — Coordinated Investor Pitching
Moderators: Lloyd Ward, Jason Benedict, Dr. Mwijage Bishota Up to 30 selected SMEs pitch to a panel of investors. 10 min pitch + 5 min Q&A per SME. Pitch deck template distributed by 15 April 2026. Investor Panel: To Be Confirmed
Showcasing Tanzania BDC SMEs Success
MEDIA TEAM
GUEST OF HONOR HIGH TABLE
"Technology as a Growth and Survival Strategy for SMEs"
JASON BENEDICT - Senior Strategist, Regent Centre for Entrepreneurship — USA
PROF. MAULILIO KIPANYULA - Vice-Chancellor, Nelson Mandela, African Institution of Science and Technology
ESSA MOHAMMEDALI - GIZ EAC AI Advisor under EAC AI Alliance
JADE MAKORY - Regional Digital Transformation and AI Advisor, GIZ EAC
Dr. MOSES NKUNDWE - ICT Commission
Closing Summit & Expo
ALL DELEGATES
Day 1
Day 2
Learn from industry leaders, government officials, and international experts
April 19-20, 2026 - Experience the best of Tanzanian wildlife and culture
Day 1
Day 2
In collaboration with government institutions, international organizations,
and private sector leaders committed to advancing SMEs and driving sustainable economic growth.
KLNT
Regent University
Government of the United Republic of Tanzania
Israel Africa Chamber of Commerce
Israel Africa Relations Institute
Israel Export Institute
East Africa Community [EAC] Secretariat
NM-AIST
EAWiBP
TANTRADE
Pepperdine University (USA)
Oral Roberts University (USA)
Tanzania Private Sector Foundation (TPSF)
World Vision Tanzania (WVT)
East African Science & Technology Commission [EASTECO]
Located at the crossroads of East Africa, Arusha is the gateway to world-renowned national parks and a thriving hub for international diplomacy and business.
The city hosts major international institutions and offers direct connectivity to global markets, making it the perfect meeting point for investors, entrepreneurs, and global leaders.
View on Map Register Now Register via Zoom
We look forward to hosting you at the SMEs Summit & Investment Expo 2026
+255 752 715 098
Mbezi Beach Chini, 13 Shule Street
P.O. Box 60139, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
info@klnt.org