The Bank provides loans to projects directly, through syndicates and other forms of co-financing. The Bank's core activity is direct project lending to medium and large scale enterprises, with emphasis on export-oriented projects. Core business is mainly derived from opportunities arising in productive and service sectors. It is envisaged that over the five years (2016 - 2020) the economy of EAC member states will grow by an average of over 6% per annum.
| 2016-2020 GDP Growth | |
| Kenya | 5.7 |
| Rwanda | 7.3 |
| Tanzania | 6.9/5.7 (about 6) |
| Uganda | 5.2 |
| Average for EADB member countries - 6.3 |
The sectors which are considered to have good potential for core business are manufacturing, agro-processing, tourism, construction and mining. Core business opportunities are expected to arise in expansion and modernisation of existing industries as well as in start-ups involving light manufacturing of consumer and intermediate goods.
