Nairobi hosts delegates from over 70 countries during the World Chambers Federation (WCF) Africa Summit on 9th and 10th April 2025. This high-level summit, held in partnership with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), the World Chambers Federation (WCF) and Absa Bank Kenya, is bringing together global and regional stakeholders in trade, investment, and development.
This landmark event is organised under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework to promote economic growth, innovation, and collaboration. Under the theme “Africa’s Global Future: Integrated, Innovative, and Sustainable, ” the summit will focus on innovation and digital transformation, such as artificial intelligence, to enhance trade. It will also address the integration of sustainability into trade and investment discussions, aiming for commitments to green growth, climate-friendly business practices, and strategies for inclusive trade that involve women and youth in commerce.
During the summit’s opening ceremony President Ruto emphasised the importance of Chambers of Commerce in pushing for trade integration especially in Africa.
“Chambers of Commerce are indispensable because they bring a proactive and a solution-oriented perspective thus the KNCCI and World Chamber Federation serve as vital bridges between government and enterprise helping businesses navigate risks, unlock opportunities and expand into global markets. Their advocacy and support empower local entrepreneurs to think globally and act boldly. In Kenya, we fully embraced this transformation and in 2022, 41% of our exports were destined for African countries. Our manufacturers and tech start-ups are expanding across the region demonstrating our strong conviction that Kenya’s and Africa’s fortune lies in intra-trade,” said President Ruto
On her part Absa Bank Kenya Business Banking Director Elizabeth Wasunna praised the efforts of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and the World Chambers Federation in providing a platform for a vital discussion on Africa’s trade and investment future.
“This forum gathers the right people, including government leaders, business leaders, and policymakers, to align on strategies that unlock Africa’s full economic potential. At Absa, we focus on strategically providing the necessary frameworks to support SMEs, including women, for growth in Kenya, across Africa, and globally. Our commitment to empowering Africa’s tomorrow together remains steadfast, and this summit presents an opportunity for Absa to demonstrate our dedication to advancing Africa’s economy,” said Wasunna.
“We know that Africa faces a big challenge of a financial gap of USD 100 billion annually, while governments build physical infrastructure, as Chambers of Commerce our focus is to form trusted networks enabling trade despite the physical limitations in terms of logistics in Africa, provide business intelligence information so that MSMEs can be able to trade across Africa and globally, and distribution solution mechanisms which KNCCI is best known to solve trade disputes,” said KNCCI President Erick Rutto.
The two-day summit will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and engaging networking sessions designed to drive Africa’s economic transformation and pave the way for the continent’s next era of growth and prosperity.
