Nairobi, Kenya – The fourth American Chamber of Commerce summit in Nairobi, Kenya was a resounding success, with over 1,300 delegates and 400 companies in attendance. The summit, which ended on Thursday, focused on strengthening bilateral trade between Kenya and the United States, as well as promoting trade and investment between the East African region and the U.S.
The theme of this year’s summit, “Catalyzing the Future of U.S. East Africa Trade and Investment,” built upon the previous edition to create a strategic platform for commercial advocacy. Kenyan President William Ruto, in his opening remarks, emphasized his country’s readiness for business and their commitment to fostering a strong partnership with the U.S.
“We are honored to host this summit and showcase the immense potential that Kenya has to offer,” said President Ruto. “We are ready to do business and we mean business.”
The summit was graced by the presence of U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, who reiterated President Joe Biden’s message that the U.S. is fully committed to Africa. Raimondo, on her first official trip to East Africa, also traveled with 14 members of the President’s Advisory Council on doing business in Africa.
“Africa has changed the narrative and the companies that are here today know that,” said Raimondo. “And they reflect the optimism and the commitment from the U.S. business community about the opportunities in Kenya and across the continent.”
Raimondo also announced a groundbreaking partnership with Kenya to promote the safe development and deployment of artificial intelligence. This partnership, the first of its kind with an African nation, will also focus on facilitating data flows and empowering digital upskilling.
In addition, seven private-sector deals on digital transformation and commitments were made involving companies such as the NBA, CISCO, Pfizer, and Qualcomm. This highlights the growing interest and confidence of American companies in Kenya’s business landscape.
The summit also saw the announcement of two new grants by the U.S. Trade and Development Agency to expand semiconductor fabrication in Kenya and the construction of a fiber network along the railways. These initiatives will further boost Kenya’s technological capabilities and infrastructure, making it an attractive destination for foreign investment.
Rebecca Miano, Kenya’s cabinet secretary with the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, emphasized that Kenya is not only a destination for investors because of its young, educated, and innovative workforce, but also because of its commitment to sustainability.
“We also have a green story: decarbonizing the world,” said Miano. “Kenya is a key player.”
She highlighted that up to 95 percent of the electricity consumed in Kenya is renewable, with a target to make it 100 percent in the next few years. This showcases Kenya’s dedication to environmental conservation and sustainable development.
The two-day summit, organized by AmCham Kenya, brought together businesses to explore and stimulate commercial opportunities. Maxwell Okello, CEO of AmCham Kenya, highlighted the key areas of focus for this year’s summit, including the tech space, climate action, and green energy.
“I am sure you’ve walked around and seen the pavilion under the title ‘Digital Transformation Africa,’ which brings together technology ecosystems from both Kenya and the U.S.,” said Okello. “Secondly, we have shone the light on matters related to climate action and green business because we know we need to be green as we move forward.”
Out of the 400 companies in attendance, Wandia Gichuru, CEO of Vivo Fashion Group, received a special shout-out from U.S. Ambassador to Kenya Meg Whitman. Whitman, who was wearing a top made by Gichuru’s apparel company, announced that Vivo will be opening its first U.S. store in Atlanta this May.
“We were very excited, not only because the ambassador was wearing something Vivo, but also because she made the announcement that we would be opening our very first U.S. store in Atlanta this May,” said Gichuru. “We hope that the ambassador and our president will visit the store while they are in the U.S. for the state visit in May.”
The summit concluded with President Ruto’s announcement of his upcoming state visit to the United States next month. This will be the first state visit since his election, further solidifying the strong partnership between Kenya and the U.S.
In conclusion, the fourth American Chamber of Commerce summit in Nairobi, Kenya was a testament to the growing
