The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), in partnership with the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), today hosted the  in Nairobi, bringing together senior government officials, diplomatic leaders, industry captains, and business delegates from both countries. The forum sought to strengthen bilateral trade, promote investment opportunities, and expand market linkages between Kenya and the Republic of Korea.

The event opened with welcoming remarks by KNCCI CEO Mr. K.K. Mutai, who emphasized Kenya’s readiness to deepen commercial cooperation with Korea. He highlighted Kenya’s strong agricultural base, growing manufacturing capacity, and expanding logistics infrastructure, noting that these position Kenya as a reliable supplier to meet Korea’s import needs.

“Kenya is ready to become your supplier of choice,” said Mr. Mutai. “From globally renowned tea, coffee, flowers, fresh fruits, and vegetables to textiles and leather goods, Kenya provides high-quality, value-added products that meet international standards. Today marks an important step toward establishing long-term export partnerships between our two nations.”

KOIMA Chairperson Ms. Youn Young Mi commended the collaboration with KNCCI, reaffirming the association’s interest in securing deeper relationships with Kenyan exporters.

In his diplomatic remarks, H.E. Kang Hyung-shik, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kenya, stressed the need for Korea to scale up its engagement with Africa, noting that Africa currently accounts for only 3% of Korea’s exports and 1% of Korea’s imports. He underscored the importance of events like this forum in expanding trade flows and building new economic bridges.

The keynote address was delivered by Mr. Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, Principal Secretary, State Department for Investment Promotion, who outlined Kenya’s strategic vision anchored in Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda. He noted that Kenya’s priorities in agriculture, healthcare, the digital economy, manufacturing, and climate action align closely with Korea’s strengths—creating strong foundations for collaboration.


“Let this forum turn contact into contracts and leads into real deals,” said the PS. He invited Korean investors to tap into opportunities in digital technology, precision agriculture, EV assembly, renewable energy, smart mobility, and green investment financing. The PS also introduced Kenya’s new Green Investment Fund, targeting SMEs in sectors such as EVs, sustainable agriculture, waste management, and green buildings.

The conference also explored Kenya’s wide access to global markets through major trade agreements such as the AfCFTA, EU–Kenya EPA, AGOA, the Kenya–UK EPA, and the Kenya–UAE CEPA. This, the PS emphasised, positions Kenya as a strategic entry point for Korean investors seeking regional and global expansion.

With bilateral trade standing at USD 203 million in 2024—with exports to Korea at USD 26 million and imports from Korea at USD 177 million—both sides agreed that there is significant room for growth. Opportunities highlighted included manufacturing, ICT, automotive assembly, healthcare, green energy, and agribusiness. Ongoing partnerships such as the cooperation at Konza Technopolis, Kenya’s flagship smart-city project, were showcased as high-impact investment platforms.

As the business-to-business meetings commenced, KNCCI reaffirmed its commitment to facilitating long-term partnerships and ensuring that Kenyan exporters are fully prepared for market entry into Korea.
“Today we open the door wider for high-quality Kenyan products to reach Korean consumers,” noted Mr. Mutai. “KNCCI remains dedicated to supporting exporters, strengthening market linkages, and ensuring this partnership flourishes for generations.”

The conference concluded with an invitation from the Government of Kenya to Korean investors to participate in the Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) scheduled for March 2026.