Kenya – UK Business Climate Roadshow day three was held in Edinburg Scotland 23rd March 2022. This forum was aimed at meeting Scottish businesses to network and exchange ideas on investment opportunities available in Kenya.

The day commenced with a Government of Kenya Business Roundtable on Market Access / Market Entry and barriers to trade. In attendance from Scotland included SDI, Scottish Chambers of Commerce and select companies either already trading with Kenya or looking at Kenya as a new market and from Kenya were business leaders, as well as senior government representatives, were present.

The forum kicked off with welcome & introductory remarks by Mr James Kiiru, Commercial Attaché, Kenya High Commission in London, Alex Milne, Country Director, Department of International Trade – Kenya, UK Government, Dharmini Shah, Deputy Country Director, DIT – Kenya, UK Government followed with a brief presentation on Doing Business in Kenya & Investment Opportunities and thereafter brief remarks by Dr Kevit Desai, CBS, Principal Secretary for East African Community as well Ambassador Kirimi Kaberia, CBS, Principal Secretary for Industrialization. Also present was Amb. Joakim K. Kamere Deputy High Commissioner, Kenya High Commission in London. A presentation by the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA) on opportunities available in Kenya with regards to SEZs followed and thereafter remarks by Mr Omarsadik Dahiye, Director of Kenya National Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

The keynote presentation was made by Ms Carole Kariuki – KEPSA CEO focusing on Blue Economy (Water, Maritime, Ports), Agriculture (incl. aquaculture), Energy (specifically focusing on Renewables, Low Carbon Transition and Clean Tech) and Education & Training.

Speaking during the event, Ms Kariuki said that the forum serves as a platform to entrench the existing relations and identify new areas of opportunity that can be explored to increase trade and investment between our two nations.

Ms Kariuki briefed the Scottish investors on the following sectors in line with the forum’s thematic areas.

Energy:

In the energy sector, Kenya’s goal is to fully transition to green and renewable energy and ensure universal access to reliable power. So far, Kenya has the highest electricity access rate in East Africa at about 75% both from the grid and off-grid solutions with over 7.5 million households already connected to the grid and we are the 7th in production of geothermal energy in the world.

Blue Economy:

KEPSA recognizes the potential of the sector to drive Kenya’s social-economic transformation considering the expansive maritime territory, the numerous resources available, and our strategic position as the sea gateway into the wider East and Central Africa Region whereby over 90% of trade is by sea.

Agricultural Sector:

This sector is key to the economy and accounts for about 26% of Gross Domestic Product and another 27% of GDP indirectly through linkages with other sectors. Farming has evolved from producing for subsistence to commercial profitable businesses and is an area that potentially attracts private entrepreneurs willing to invest therein and employ modern farming techniques necessary to achieve increased productivity.  In addition, we seek technological investment to reduce post-harvest loss and also investment in agri-business and agro-processing.

The investment opportunities in agriculture are diverse and cut across the value chain continuum.

Education:

Kenya’s education has come far and we are a renowned talent pool in the region. Even so, there are still areas that need investment to ensure that we match top education giants such as the UK.

A series of B2B meetings followed thereafter with the hope of establishing business relations.