The East Africa Brand Quality Awards marked its fifth anniversary on Friday night with a glittering ceremony that celebrated innovation, excellence, and transformation across the region.
The ceremony that drew thousands of people, saw more than one hundred companies and organizations honored for their outstanding contributions to economic growth, industrial progress, and quality advancement in their respective sectors.
Held under the theme “Regionalising Quality Through Sustainable Innovation,” brought together government officials, business leaders, and innovators from across East Africa.
Representing the Chief Guest, the Minister of State for trade, industry and cooperatives Gen. Wilson Mbasu Mbadi, a senior officer conveyed his message, applauding the East Africa Brand Quality Awards for setting new standards of excellence that align with regional and global trade goals.
“It is with great excitement that I stand before you tonight,” Gen. Mbadi’s message read. “When we launched these awards in 2020, our vision was simple yet bold, to create a platform that recognizes and evaluates quality and excellence across East Africa. Today, that vision has grown into a movement shaping industries, empowering communities, and positioning the East African Community as a beacon of transformation.”
He noted that over the past five years, the East Africa Brand Quality Awards had evaluated more than two thousand organizations from both the private and public sectors, recognizing over three hundred “quality champions” who have set benchmarks in their industries.
Beyond recognition, the initiative has connected local producers to global markets through its Investors Hub, which offers technical support, financing access, and market linkages.
Gen. Mbadi highlighted practical examples of how quality translates into tangible economic gains. Through the Investors Hub, the gold mining sector now exports over fifty kilograms monthly, earning more than nine million dollars annually. Similarly, Kiki Tropical Fruits has been exporting one hundred eighty-three metric tons of pineapple concentrate to Europe every month, generating 6.4 million dollars annually while supporting hundreds of farmers.
In the agricultural export sector, Uganda now exports over one thousand four hundred metric tons of avocado oil annually, mainly to Spain, earning more than 8.4 million dollars and benefiting thousands of smallholder farmers.
In partnership with the Halal Research Council, the organization has also supported several manufacturers to achieve Halal certification, opening access to Islamic markets and boosting foreign exchange. “From these sectors alone, supported exporters generate over 53 million dollars annually, creating jobs and proving that East African quality meets global demand,” the statement read.
To sustain these milestones, Gen. Mbadi emphasized the need to invest in people, systems, and technology.
He applauded the launch of the AI Africa Academy, which is training over five hundred professionals in AI-powered quality management and predictive analysis, as well as over fifteen hundred specialists in ISO systems and continuous improvement.
The academy is helping East African industries align with international standards such as the FDA, EU, and SFDA, positioning them for competitive export readiness.
Ambassador Patrick Nsubuga, the Chief Organizer of the awards, said the 2025 edition recognized over one hundred brands that have attained the “Seal of Excellence,” a quality mark that will support manufacturers and service providers in accessing regional and international markets.
He explained that the seal, endorsed by the Chartered Quality Institute and Alpha Next, will serve as proof of compliance with internationally recognized quality standards.
“All the winners tonight have demonstrated excellence and commitment to quality,” Nsubuga said. “The Seal of Excellence will help them stand out in both import and export markets. It signals to buyers across the world that products made in East Africa meet the highest standards.”
He encouraged local producers to embrace the quality seal to boost confidence among consumers and investors. “Once someone sees your product bearing this seal, they will know it meets tested standards. We are supporting manufacturers and service providers through the Investors Hub to ensure they access markets at no cost,” he added.
Since its inception, the East Africa Brand Quality Awards has evolved from a simple recognition platform into a regional movement that promotes trade competitiveness, industrial growth, and sustainable innovation.
The organization’s leadership reaffirmed its commitment to advancing quality across sectors, pledging to expand the Investors Hub with AI-powered market-matching tools, mentorship programs, and the upcoming Young Quality Champions initiative aimed at nurturing future leaders in innovation and quality management.
As the night drew to a close, the ceremony not only celebrated excellence but also underscored a deeper message that East Africa’s competitiveness on the global stage lies in consistent quality, innovation, and collaboration.
The awards have become a symbol of the region’s determination to redefine “Made in East Africa” as a mark of excellence recognized worldwide.
