Kenya and Japan has reaffirmed their dedication to deepening trade and investment ties. The Kenya-Japan Business Forum, organized by the Kenya Export Promotion and Branding Agency (KEPROBA) in collaboration with the Ministry of Investments, Trade, and Industry, was a milestone event that underscored mutual commitment to economic cooperation. The forum, officiated by Kenya’s Acting Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade, and Industry, Hon. Salim Mvurya, and Japan’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs, H.E. Fujii Hisayuki, brought together more than 130 companies from both nations to explore innovative trade and investment opportunities.
As a critical trade partner for Kenya, Japan’s $263 million exports significantly outweigh Kenya’s $62.9 million, creating a trade imbalance that dominated discussions. To address this, Kenya outlined plans to expand its export portfolio, including agricultural products and minerals, while also diversifying markets to regions such as the European Union, UAE, and Africa. These efforts, combined with Japan’s announcement of a $30 billion investment in the Dongokundu Special Economic Zone, signify a strategic move toward narrowing the trade gap through infrastructure growth and industrial development.
Hon. Mvurya emphasized the power of partnerships in driving Kenya’s economic transformation, urging Kenyan entrepreneurs to leverage opportunities for collaboration with Japanese investors. He highlighted the pivotal role of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) in building these vital business connections. Japanese representatives, on the other hand, identified geothermal energy and infrastructure development as key investment areas, expressing their unwavering confidence in Kenya’s burgeoning economic potential.
H.E. Fujii Hisayuki applauded Kenya’s thriving business environment, citing the remarkable growth of Japanese companies operating in Kenya, which has doubled to 180 over the past five years. He credited this progress to the success of public-private missions under the Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) and reiterated Japan’s commitment to fostering a free and open Indo-Pacific region through enhanced trade relations.
The forum also served as a hub for knowledge-sharing and networking, featuring engaging business-to-business matchmaking sessions. KEPROBA’s Resource Mobilization Director, Ms. Fatma Bashir, detailed how Kenya’s participation in the upcoming Osaka Expo 2025 could unlock new bilateral trade opportunities. Meanwhile, Product Market Development Directorate Manager, Mr. David Yamina, led vibrant discussions on Kenya’s investment incentives and policies designed to attract foreign capital.
In his closing remarks, Principal Secretary for Investments Promotion, Mr. Abubakar Hassan, expressed confidence in the future of Kenya-Japan relations. He commended the forum’s success in fostering groundbreaking ideas and laying the groundwork for increased collaboration. He reaffirmed that these strengthened ties would catalyze Kenya’s industrialization and align with its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation(BETA.)
