The second European Union (EU)-Kenya Business Forum
The second European Union (EU)-Kenya Business Forum in Nairobi has built momentum to new economic pathways that benefit the Kenya-EU partnership.
President William Ruto, who officially inaugurated the event, emphasized Kenya’s commitment to leverage digital transformation as a catalyst for economic development, even as he called for innovations and entrepreneurship.
He outlined the need to enhance digital infrastructure, promoting digital literacy and skills, strengthening public-private partnerships and ensuring inclusive access to digital tools as Kenya’s strategic objectives to harness digital transformation for economic growth.
The two-day event themed ‘Digitalising Trade’ aimed to explore the transformative potential of digital technologies in enhancing trade efficiency, expanding market access and fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth between the European Union and Kenya.
The forum brought together a distinguished assembly of leaders, policy makers and innovators from Kenya and the European Union.
Some of the keynote attendees of the forum include EU Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, European Union Commissioner for Trade, Mr. Maroš Šefčovič, Vice-President of the European Investment Bank, Mr. Thomas Östros, Cabinet Secretary Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry (MITI)Hon. Lee Kinyanjui, among others.
EU Ambassador to Kenya, Henriette Geiger, underscored the importance of the EPA in transforming trade relations, noting that the EU remained Kenya’s largest export partner, with the forum serving as a strategic platform to foster inclusive growth, sustainable trade and stronger digital connectivity.
CS Kinyanjui outlined several strategic goals to leverage the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) for economic transformation, including enhancing market access for Kenyan exports.
He pinpointed that promoting digital trade infrastructure and supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with access to finance and technology, were necessary even as the two countries worked together to foster sustainable and inclusive growth.
The Principal Secretary in the State Department for Industry, Dr. Juma Mukhwana, who was also in attendance, reiterated the country’s transformative industrial vision.
He emphasized the crucial role of digital innovation in reshaping trade, noting “Trade digitization enhances efficiency and competitiveness. It allows Kenyan businesses, especially SMEs, to access global market more easily, while also attracting investment in high value services.”
Dr. Mukhwana praised the EU-Kenya EPA, which came into force on July 1, 2024, calling it “a strategic enabler of economic transformation.”
“The EPA improves market access and opens up the EU market to Kenyan products, fostering sustainable and inclusive growth,” he noted.
The highlight of the event was the launch of the European Chamber of Commerce in Kenya (EuroCham Kenya), a platform to enhance exchange between EU and Kenyan companies and promote trade and investment.