Ruto urges Belgian investors to shift to value addition and manufacturing in Kenya
President Ruto urges Belgian investors to establish manufacturing in Kenya, citing clean energy, EU trade access and value addition opportunities...
✨ Key Highlights
President William Ruto has urged Belgian investors to shift their focus from exporting raw materials to establishing industries in Kenya for value addition and manufacturing, leveraging the country's abundant clean energy and preferential access to the European market.
- Belgian investors were challenged to double the number of companies operating in Kenya and increase bilateral trade to $1 billion by 2030.
- Key figures involved include President William Ruto and representatives from Belgian businesses and the Kenya-Benelux Chamber of Commerce.
- Kenya offers duty-free and quota-free access to the EU market under the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), with exports to the EU already growing by 20%.
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President Ruto visits Europe for trade and investment discussions - June 2026
President William Ruto arrived in Oslo, Norway, for an official visit aimed at bolstering bilateral relations and deepening cooperation between Kenya and the Kingdom of Norway on trade, climate, and investment. During his trip, Ruto met with EU Council President Antonio Costa and King Philippe of Belgium in Brussels, where Belgian investors expressed interest in Kenya's renewable energy, mineral resources, and agribusiness sectors. The President urged Belgian investors to shift from exporting raw materials to establishing industries in Kenya for value addition and manufacturing, citing the country's abundant clean energy and preferential market access. Additionally, President Ruto met with EU Parliament President Roberta Metsola in Brussels. Separately, the Slovak Foreign Minister Juraj Blanár arrived in Nairobi for a three-day visit focused on humanitarian, economic, and development cooperation.
