The second edition of the EU-Kenya Business Forum took place in Nairobi on 12 and 13 May 2025, with the theme “Digitalising Trade.” The Forum was jointly organised by the EU Delegation to Kenya, EU Member State embassies, and key Kenyan stakeholders. Its main objective was to strengthen trade and investment ties between the EU and Kenya by leveraging digital transformation as a catalyst for improving trade efficiency, expanding market access, and fostering sustainable and inclusive economic growth.
The event was officially opened by H.E. President William Ruto, who praised the forum’s role in enhancing Kenya-EU relations. Distinguished speakers included H.E. Henriette Geiger, EU Ambassador to Kenya; EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič; and European Investment Bank Vice-President Thomas Östros, who all highlighted the strategic importance of digitalisation in unlocking the full potential of EU-Kenya economic cooperation.
The two-day Forum attracted over 700 participants from Kenya, East Africa, and Europe, including policymakers, business leaders, investors, ecosystem enablers, civil society actors, and development partners. Through thematic workshops, B2B (business-to-business), B2G (business-to-government), and B2F (business-to-finance) matchmaking sessions, participants explored how technologies such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, e-commerce, and other digital tools can transform trade and support more inclusive and resilient economic development.
BIC Africa was proud to participate and exhibit at the forum, alongside GrowthAfrica https://growthafrica.com/ ,a partner in BIC Ethiopia https://bic-ethiopia.eu/ . Our presence provided an excellent opportunity to engage with local businesses, the EU Delegation to Kenya, EU Member States’ delegations, European Commission representatives, and numerous European companies operating in Kenya.
Dawit Dagnew, representing BIC Africa, showcased BIC Africa activities and engaged with stakeholders from the EU, Kenyan private sector, NGOs, international organisations, and academic institutions. These interactions opened the door to promising new business opportunities and potential collaborations. Dawit also held discussions with representatives from the European Commission and the Investing in Young Businesses in Africa – Women Entrepreneurship for Africa (IYBA WE4A) programme, which was announced during the Forum.
The forum provided a platform for showcasing innovative African and European enterprises and fostering collaboration between the private sector and development institutions.
A thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth and we are excited to continue these conversations and explore future partnerships and collaborative initiatives with stakeholders we connected with during the event. A heartfelt thank you to the EU Delegation in Kenya and the European Commission for organising and inviting us to this impactful forum.