President William Ruto of Kenya is making a strong case for his country as a prime destination for trade and investment. Speaking at the AMCHAM Business Summit in Nairobi alongside US Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo, Ruto highlighted Kenya’s recent reforms and abundant opportunities.
“Kenya is open for business,” declared Ruto, outlining a range of attractive investment prospects across sectors like agriculture, finance, construction, renewable energy, and the digital economy. The President emphasized the creation of Special Economic Zones as a key step towards a more inviting investment environment.
Ruto also challenged the traditional narrative of Africa as a continent solely defined by challenges. He argued for a shift in perspective, positioning Africa as a land brimming with potential and ripe for investment. “The old narrative of Africa being a place of problems has been debunked,” he stated. “Africa is now being seen as a continent of solutions and opportunities.”
The Summit underscored the strong relationship between Kenya and the United States, built on shared values of democracy and trade. Ruto pointed out Kenya’s “Bottom Up Economic Agenda” aimed at eradicating poverty, while Raimondo pledged the Biden administration’s commitment to a win-win partnership with Kenya and other African nations.
Raimondo acknowledged Africa’s growing influence on the global economic stage. “Africa is shaping the world’s economic culture and politics,” she remarked. She pledged to champion Kenya’s potential back in the US, urging multinational corporations to take notice of the investment opportunities it presents.