Kenya rolled out the red carpet for global manufacturers Tuesday, using a major international expo to issue a direct challenge to investors: set up shop, transfer your technology, and help us double our industrial output by 2027.
The pitch came at the opening of AICMEC 2026, a three-day trade fair that has drawn over 200 companies from China and Africa to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC)—a clear signal that Nairobi is betting big on becoming the region’s manufacturing heartbeat.
Themed “Smart Manufacturing Africa, Shared Future,” the expo is expected to facilitate business partnerships, technology transfer, investment discussions and market linkages that will contribute to Africa’s industrial transformation and strengthen economic cooperation between Kenya, China and the wider global manufacturing community.
Officially opening the event, Principal Secretary for Industry Dr. Juma Mukhwana said Kenya was positioning itself for a new era of industrial growth anchored on manufacturing, value addition and regional trade.
“Kenya is open for business, offering a stable, innovative environment for you to manufacture and grow. I urge all stakeholders to use this Expo as a platform for forging partnerships and exchanging knowledge to accelerate industrial transformation,” said Mukhwana.
He noted that Kenya’s economy grew by 4.6 per cent in 2025, with strong performance across key industrial sectors. The construction sector rebounded to record 6.8 per cent growth, while mining and quarrying expanded by 14.9 per cent, reflecting increasing demand for industrial equipment and infrastructure development.
Despite the positive trajectory, Dr. Mukhwana acknowledged that the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP remains at 7.1 per cent, underscoring the need for increased investment in modern production systems, industrial machinery and local manufacturing capacity.
“Our goal is to raise the manufacturing sector’s contribution to GDP to 15 per cent by 2027,” he said.
Mukhwana called for greater collaboration in electric mobility, agricultural mechanisation, metallurgy, smart manufacturing and construction technologies, noting that industrial development was critical to job creation, food security, foreign exchange savings and Kenya’s competitiveness within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) President Dr. Erick Rutto described the expo as a strategic platform for connecting Kenyan enterprises with global technology providers and equipment manufacturers.
“Kenya has a strong economic foundation, but we must increase productivity, industrial value addition and the use of modern machinery if we are to create more jobs and become globally competitive,” said Dr. Rutto.
He noted that KNCCI represents more than 50,000 enterprises through its network of 47 county chambers and has been actively encouraging businesses to adopt modern technologies to improve efficiency and competitiveness.
According to Dr. Rutto, the expo presents an opportunity for Kenyan businesses to access machinery suited for agriculture, construction, manufacturing, mining and transport sectors while engaging suppliers on financing, maintenance, operator training and after-sales support.
“Through the KNCCI China Office, our focus is to facilitate access to affordable and quality machinery, technology transfer, reliable suppliers and investment partnerships for Kenyan businesses,” he said.
Meanwhile, Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) Director General Pius Rotich pitched Kenya as one of Africa’s most attractive investment destinations, citing its strategic location, expanding infrastructure, access to regional markets and investor-friendly regulatory environment.
“Kenya is ready for the next phase of economic transformation, and we invite investors to be part of this journey,” said Rotich.
He noted that more than 350 Chinese companies are already operating in Kenya, while bilateral trade between Kenya and China reached approximately US$4.63 billion in 2024. Kenya also attracted US$243 million in Chinese foreign direct investment during the same period.
