Facts World

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[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

Africa is no longer a spectator to global transformation. It is a protagonist.

At the Africa Forward Summit, the Inspire & Connect Opening Session was officially launched by H.E. Dr. @MusaliaMudavadi , EGH, and H.E. Mr. Jean-Noël Barrot, France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, bringing together leaders, investors, policymakers, and industry pioneers to shape the continent's future.

Also present was @GovLeeKinyanjui (CS, @MITIKenya), @PSAhassan , CBS, (PS @Investment_Ke) , and Ms. @SallyMahihu (Chairperson of the @InvestKenya_ Board)

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

I joined the main stage conversation alongside Mr. Baidy Agné, President of Business Africa, and Mr. Philippe Gautier, CEO of @medef International, with one message that anchored everything: the world is rewiring in real time, and Africa must position itself at the centre of this shift through integration, competitiveness, and execution.

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

Capital, climate, AI, and shifting global trade dynamics are redefining competitiveness and opening new doors for Africa. The continent is home to 1.4 billion people, with over 60% under the age of 25, and is projected to contribute approximately 740 million additional working-age people by 2050, nearly 85% of the global increase. The AfCFTA unites 54 economies with a combined GDP of USD 3.4 trillion, making it the world's largest free trade area by membership.

But numbers alone don't build economies. I called for a decisive shift from extraction to value creation through stronger local supply chains, patient capital, technology transfer, and long-term partnerships that drive real industrialisation and sustainable growth.

This must be the decade of delivery and execution.

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

On the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, I joined @PSAhassan CBS, and PS Regina Ombam, @Trade_Kenya , for a high-level Kenya-France bilateral meeting with Mr. @NicolasDufourcq , CEO of @Bpifrance , and Mr. @ArnaudFloris , Head of Africa at Bpifrance.

Bpifrance brings serious firepower to that question. In 2024 alone, they committed approximately €970 million into VC and growth funds, managing an active portfolio of €8.3 billion. Their investment toolkit spans direct equity, co-investments, fund-of-funds, venture debt, and innovation loans designed for SMEs, startups, and scale-ups ready to grow.

For Kenyan SMEs, startups, and high-growth companies, that means access to ticket sizes ranging from €500K for early-stage tech, all the way to €200M for late-stage growth equity.

This is serious, structured capital looking for long-term value creation and Kenya is ready. Our market is open, our pipeline is real, and partnerships like this are how we turn Africa's potential into performance.

#InvestInKenya

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

As Africa advances the regional integration agenda, partnerships such as these are critical in building resilient value chains, expanding market access, and driving sustainable economic transformation.

We look forward to convening public and private-sector leaders at the Kenya–Namibia Business Forum to explore new growth opportunities.

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

Two nations. One integrated opportunity.

Kenya and Tanzania are advancing a bold, joint agenda to deepen trade and investment, as reaffirmed by H.E. President @WilliamsRuto and H.E. President @SuluhuSamia at the Tanzania–Kenya High-Level Business Forum in Dar es Salaam.

The fundamentals are strong:
- Bilateral trade stood at USD 860.3 million in 2025, with increasingly balanced flows.
- Kenyan investments in Tanzania exceed USD 1.7 billion, while Tanzanian investments in Kenya have surpassed USD 336 million.
- Across the region, total EAC trade grew by 25.4% to USD 156.6 billion in 2025, with intra-EAC trade rising 28%.

The focus now shifts to execution. Both Presidents committed to:
- Eliminating non-tariff barriers through a time-bound mechanism
- Institutionalizing the Business Forum as an annual accountability platform
- Accelerating infrastructure, energy and digital connectivity through private capital

With a shared target of USD 1 billion in trade and USD 500 million in new cross-border investments over the next three years, Kenya and Tanzania are positioning as one integrated, competitive investment destination.

@InvestKenya_ @InvestTanzania @MITIKenya @Kenyahc_tz @ForeignOfficeKE

[Facts World @bleeh62]

@JohnMwendwaOGW @InvestKenya_ The partnership with Tanzania Investment Special Economic Zones Authority and Kenya Investment Authority signals serious intent.
Looking forward to seeing the deals, partnerships, and cross-border collaborations that will come out of this.

[Ford Smith @fordsmith]

@JohnMwendwaOGW @InvestKenya_ Big regional forums like this matter most when they translate into real deals, jobs, and cross border trade growth beyond the announcements 🤝

[Facts World @bleeh62]

@JohnMwendwaOGW @InvestKenya_ The partnership with Tanzania Investment Special Economic Zones Authority and Kenya Investment Authority signals serious intent.
Looking forward to seeing the deals, partnerships, and cross-border collaborations that will come out of this.

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

Now underway in Dar es Salaam: the Tanzania–Kenya Business Forum 2026.

In partnership with TISEZA, @InvestKenya_ is convening 1,000+ public and private sector leaders to drive real impact- targeting USD 500M in new investments and USD 1B in trade over the next three years.

@MITIKenya @InvestTanzania @Investment_Ke @GovLeeKinyanjui @ForeignOfficeKE @StateHouseKenya @SpokespersonGoK @mfa_tanzania

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

At the Kenya–Italy Economic Forum, I had the privilege of presenting Kenya's value proposition to a room of over 220 Italian companies, and the message was clear: Kenya is the preferred gateway for investment into East and Central Africa.

Italy is already a strategic partner. As the world's 8th largest economy, Italy ranked as Kenya's 16th largest source of FDI in 2024, with close to 50 Italian companies already operating across food & beverage, energy, automotive, and agriculture.

But there is so much more opportunity ahead.

Kenya offers:
-A diversified, high-growth economy with opportunities across priority sectors, including leather and agri-processing
-A dynamic and rapidly evolving innovation ecosystem
-Strategic market access — preferential entry into regional and international markets
-An investor-friendly policy environment built for long-term, sustainable growth

We are open for business and committed to making every investment journey seamless.

Choose Kenya #InvestInKenya

@KENYAinITALY

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

At #KIICO2026, H.E. Dr. @WilliamsRuto unveiled over $2.9B across 20 investment deals in agriculture, manufacturing, ICT, BPO, healthcare, energy, and real estat. These deals are set to create 63,000 jobs for Kenyans.

#InvestKenya #KIICO2026

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

Investor Success Story!

Wrigleys continues to expand its operations, tapping into Kenya’s strategic location and skilled workforce.

@MarsWrigleyEA

#KIICO2026 #InvestInKenya

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

Kenya is ready! #KIICO2026 #InvestInKenya

@GovLeeKinyanjui @MITIKenya

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

We welcome all our local and international delegates to Nairobi. About 67 countries will be represented at #KIICO2026.

#InvestInKenya

[Citizen TV Kenya @citizentvkenya]

WATCH | #CitizenExplainer with @YvonneOkwara https://t.co/svJWzQ14hh

[Citizen TV Kenya @citizentvkenya]

John Mwendwa, CEO Invest Kenya: Kenya Investment Authority is a parastatal in the Ministry of Investments trade and Industry. Among our mandates are investment promotion, investment facilitation and advocating for a conducive business climate. Geopolitics, supply chain disruptions, sustainability play a big role in how investors think and where they want to place their capital
#CitizenExplainer

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

Kenya has a diverse portfolio of opportunities across many sectors- agriculture, ICT, BPO, manufacturing and emerging opportunities like the blue economy and mining. #PowerTalks #CitizenExplainer

[John Mwendwa,OGW. @JohnMwendwaOGW]

We are moving beyond conversations to tangible outcomes at #KIICO2026. We want to showcase investment deals. MOUs are good but we want to show the transactions. #PowerTalks #CitizenExplainer

[Citizen TV Kenya @citizentvkenya]

John Mwendwa, CEO Invest Kenya: You do not wake up and announce 2 billion dollars plus worth of investments; you work hard, you build a credible and quality pipeline. This is the 4th edition, and we have a number of objectives we would hope to achieve at the conference. Investment deals are critical, especially if you can showcase impact and success downstream in a couple of months #CitizenExplainer