KEPSA, led by the Chairperson Ms Flora Mutahi, held a virtual Business Forum with Swiss companies on 1^st December 2022. The forum provided an opportunity for Swiss and Kenyan businesses to network and explore collaborations in innovative solutions in waste management, energy production, water management, and agriculture among other sectors under clean technology.

In his welcoming remarks, H.E Valentin Zellweger - Ambassador of Switzerland to Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia and Uganda noted that with the rising concerns of food security due to climate change and high prices, innovative solutions are critical. He went on to say that renewable energy and clean technology are promising sectors in Kenya as the country has extensive resources for solar, hydro, wind and geothermal.

Ambassador Zellweger said "As much as Kenya still has some way to go when it comes to waste and water-waste management, the country is on the right path towards achieving a safer and cleaner environment. More Kenyans are becoming aware of environmental degradation which is also increasingly on the radar of politicians."

In her remarks, Ms Flora Mutahi noted that the EAC region presents a potential market of over 300 million people and the market is even greater with the introduction of the Tripartite Free Trade Agreement between the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), Southern African Development Community (SADC) and East African Community (EAC) as well as the AfCFTA which now covers the whole continent with over 90% of tariffs liberalized. She encouraged the Swiss companies to invest and do business in Kenya while saying that the Kenyan private sector is open to investment opportunities in all facets of the energy sector.

The forum featured presentations from both Kenya and Switzerland. Mr Patrick Bertschi - Project Manager, Switzerland Global Enterprise, Cleantech presented on Switzerland’s technology and cleantech offerings. Eng. James Mwangi - KEPSA Director in charge of Energy and Extractives highlighted the available trade and investment opportunities in Kenya in a presentation titled ‘Kenya as an attractive destination for Swiss companies’.

Mr George Aluru - KEPSA Energy and Extractives Sector Board Chair moderated an interactive session on success stories. The panellists included Ms Sonia Orwa - General Manager of Kenya at Mr Green Trading Africa Ltd; Mr Gary Hannam – CEO, Olivado; Geoffrey Ronoh – Co-Founder, Ofgen Limited; and Mr Marcel Bruhwiler - International Finance Corporation (IFC).

The virtual forum was a prelude to the upcoming Swiss Trade Mission to Kenya on Cleantech that will take place in February 2023. The trade mission, which will be hosted jointly by the Swiss Embassy in Kenya and Switzerland Global Enterprise in close collaboration with KEPSA, will focus on showcasing new market opportunities in both countries.