On the first day of the US Presidential-Led Business Forum in Atlanta, KEPSA participated in various activities, providing Kenya’s private sector strategic positions to engage with potential partners and customers in the US. These activities aim to elevate the country’s international presence and position Kenya as a trade and investment destination.

KEPSA members participated in panel dialogues and B2B engagement in different sectors, part of the discussions in the panels were on textiles and apparel value chain development, which exhibited Kenya’s textiles and leather sector’s high-potential products for the US market.

Under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA), Kenya has become the second-largest exporter of apparel to the US, with a market share of 23.2%. The industry has seen significant growth, with exports to the US increasing from US$55 million in 2001 to US$603 million in 2022. The sector has also experienced increased capital investment, creating 66,260 jobs and generating exports worth KES 54.12 billion. KEPSA aims to increase partnerships and maximize AGOA's potential for bilateral trade and investment between Kenya and the US.

Additionally, KEPSA members participated in the Diaspora Tech Investment Conference at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta. Here, KEPSA emphasised Kenya’s evolving Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) to meet the increasing demand for connectivity, engaging social platforms, dynamic e-commerce, flexible remote work solutions, accessible online education and meetings, and seamless financial services. The growing reliance on digital technologies and the internet has led service providers to focus on expanding network infrastructure, transitioning from voice to data services, launching rural tower expansion, fifth Generation (5G) networks, and expanding fibre rollouts.

The government’s commitment to improving digital connectivity was demonstrated by launching the Digital Masterplan 2022-2032 in 2022 to support the growth of the digital economy. As an enabler, ICT has contributed immensely to improvement in e-government services, e-business, e-commerce, entrepreneurship, and digital skills and enhanced market competitiveness of the country’s products and services.

“Kenya emerges as a beacon of innovation and digital advancement within the African landscape, characterized by a rapidly evolving digital milieu. Kenya’s technology sector, dubbed "Silicon Savannah," is home to over 200 startups and has attracted over USD 300 million in investment in the past five years. For investors, this represents a fertile ground for high-impact investments. We are particularly interested in attracting investments in mobile solutions and fintech sectors where Kenya has shown global leadership,” said remarks from the Private sector.

KEPSA Members further highlighted the evolution of digital outsourcing through the growth of Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) firms, the substantial growth of Kenya's fintech sector, the contribution of sustainable smart cities like the Konza Technopolis, and the significant contribution of the ICT sector to Kenya's GDP, reflecting a 15.7% increase from 2020 to 2022.

With the current transformation and dynamism in the global labour markets, relevant and demand-driven skills are paramount. KEPSA has made significant efforts to address the skills gap by working with the TVET ecosystem to bridge the gap between industry and training through institutional capacity enhancement, formation of a Private Sector Skills Network, promotion of internship, apprenticeship, coaching, and mentorship, and work and career readiness programs. This offering will be blended with the scaling of important topics like digital skills, entrepreneurship, and green skills in TVET institutions.

Additionally, KEPSA has been implementing digital skilling Programs for the youth and SMEs, such as the Ajira Digital Program, an initiative of the Government with a strategic partnership with Mastercard Foundation. It is being implemented by KEPSA and eMobilis to introduce young people to online work opportunities and provide them with the tools, training, mentorship, and empowerment centres needed to work online and earn an income with dignity.

Kenya's President, H.E. William Ruto, echoed this in his address at a meeting with Kenyans in the US. He highlighted the diaspora registration and mapping for skills and expertise initiative to ensure that the country secures the placement of more Kenyans in productive employment abroad. Consequently, it is expected to increase the diaspora’s capacity as a catalyst in Kenya’s economic development.

During the first day of the visit, Kenya’s private sector identified partnership opportunities, including technology transfer, to help adapt innovations that suit Kenyan needs, including city technologies, AI-driven agricultural improvements, and healthcare solutions. Other opportunities include digitising the public sector, particularly the successful Judiciary digitisation pilot program. Additionally, it emphasised the potential for collaboration in fintech, eHealth, EdTech, AgriTech, BPOs, and the outsourcing industry, leveraging Kenya's tech talents and global market opportunities.

Lastly, KEPSA members participated in the health partnership event presided over by H.E. President William Ruto at the Centre of Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia. H.E. President William Ruto emphasised the importance of disease control and prevention. He met with leaders from the CDC and other international health institutions from the Government and the private sector to discuss strategies for combating diseases and promoting public health.