- He will lead the regional chamber after assuming office with the handover happening on November 4 in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania.
- During his tenure, the KNCCI's membership expanded significantly, growing from 20,000 to over 60,000 members across all 47 counties of Kenya.
Image: HANDOUT
Kenyan businessman Richard Ngatia has assumed the leadership of the prestigious East African Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture as its president.
The move is a big win for the former Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry president who lost his position to Erick Ruto in elections conducted in June.
And now, he will lead the regional chamber after assuming office with the handover happening on November 4 in Zanzibar, United Republic of Tanzania.
In a statement to newsrooms, the regional commerce chamber said Ngatia was officially handed over the reins by the outgoing president Toufiq S. Turky who will now become EACCIA patron after leading it for five years.
"Established in 2005, the EACCIA functions as the apex chamber for all countries within the East African Community member states," the statement said.
Its membership includes prominent institutions such as the Tanzania Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Uganda National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Zanzibar National Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture, Private Sector Federation of Rwanda, and the Chambre Federale de Commerce et d’Industrie du Burundi (CFCIB).
The EACCIA has also extended its reach to include Comoros, Ethiopia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, Madagascar and Seychelles.
"As a vibrant player within one of the fastest-growing regional economic blocs, the EACCIA takes on a pivotal role as a dynamic advocate for fostering a conducive business environment, crucial for regional economic growth," the statement added.
The organisation actively engages in trade promotion, mobilising investments, fortifying the growth of Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) across the region, and championing Public Private Partnerships (PPPs) - especially in the context of delivering regional infrastructure programmes and projects.
"Ngatia brings a wealth of experience and a distinguished track record as a thought leader and successful entrepreneur to the EACCIA."
Before assuming his current role, Ngatia served as the president of the KNCCI where he was instrumental in implementing multiple reforms that facilitated the recovery and substantial growth of MSMEs in Kenya in the aftermath of the Covid-19 pandemic.
During his tenure, the KNCCI's membership expanded significantly, growing from 20,000 to over 60,000 members across all 47 counties of Kenya.
This growth was attributed to increased market linkages, the establishment of strategic partnerships for credit access and initiatives aimed at skill enhancement.
Ngatia also holds a position on the General Council of the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and World Chamber Federation (WCF), a global forum that connects, leads, and inspires a vast network of chambers and their respective business communities.
He has previously served as the chairman of the Great Lakes Region Private Sector Forum.
"The board and management of the EACCIA express their unwavering confidence in the leadership of President Richard Ngatia. They believe that his wealth of experience and dedication will drive the EACCIA's vision and strategic plan to greater heights, solidifying its role as a key player in fostering economic growth and development within the East African region," the statement added.