The Kenya Development Corporation (KDC) is hosting the Africa Summit 2025 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), themed “The Next Frontier.” This event brought together a diverse group of leaders, investors, policymakers, and development partners, all eager to spark transformative investments across Africa. The Summit was a fantastic opportunity to connect capital with key sectors that are vital for fostering inclusive and sustainable growth in Kenya and beyond.
As Kenya’s go-to development finance institution, KDC reaffirmed its commitment to supporting medium and large-scale enterprises through both financial and technical assistance. The focus of the Summit was on strategic sectors like manufacturing, agriculture, health, tourism, the digital economy, and climate resilience, each playing a crucial role in Kenya’s socio-economic transformation.
Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan from the State Department for Investment Promotion emphasized the government’s dedication to positioning Kenya as a competitive global investment hub. He pointed out the positive effects of targeted reforms under the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, which include simplifying business registration, offering tax incentives, and reforming licensing processes to boost investor confidence. Projects like the Kenya Jobs and Economic Transformation (KJET) Project showcase how well-crafted policies can attract high-value foreign direct investment (FDI), fueling growth in manufacturing, agro-processing, and green sectors.
PS Regina Ombam highlighted Kenya’s ambition to become Africa’s trade and logistics center. She shared that Kenya’s exports hit KES 1.04 trillion in 2023, driven by strong performances in tea, horticulture, and manufactured goods. With ongoing infrastructure improvements, trade facilitation reforms, and better access to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Kenya is enhancing regional integration and opening up new global markets for its MSMEs and exporters.
KDC Chairman Hon. Dr. Sakwa Bunyasi highlighted the importance of patient capital in driving long-term change. With Strategic Plan 2.0, KDC is aligning its initiatives with Vision 2030, Agenda 2063, and the Sustainable Development Goals to boost investment in impactful sectors. In 2024, more than KES 783 billion was directed towards Kenyan SMEs, while KDC’s blended finance portfolio expanded to KES 29 billion, helping businesses that might otherwise be overlooked.
The Summit wrapped up with a strong call to action: to transform discussions into investments, and those investments into enduring prosperity for all Kenyans. With robust public-private partnerships and forward-thinking leadership, Kenya is poised to spearhead the next phase of economic transformation in Africa.
