Kenya and Korea Chart New Trade and Investment Path at High-Level Nairobi Forum
Kenya and the Republic of Korea have renewed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment ties during the Korea-Kenya Business Forum held today in Nairobi. The forum convened a distinguished delegation led by the Principal Secretary for Investment Promotion, Mr. Abubakar Hassan Abubakar; the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Kenya, H.E. Kang Hyung-shik; the CEO of the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI), Mr. K.K. Mutai and the Chairperson of the Korea Importers Association (KOIMA), Ms. Youn Young Mi. Their presence underscored the strategic significance both nations place on deepening economic cooperation.
Hosted jointly by the State Department for Investment Promotion, KNCCI and KOIMA, the forum focused on unlocking Kenya’s underutilised market potential in Korea, which currently accounts for only 0.02% of Kenya’s global trade. Kenya’s annual trade with Korea estimated between USD 200–500 million remains below its potential, with a persistent trade imbalance favouring Korea. In 2024, Kenya exported USD 26 million worth of goods to Korea compared to Korea’s USD 177 million in exports to Kenya.
Setting the tone for the discussions, Principal Secretary Abubakar Hassan Abubakar reiterated Kenya’s ambition to strengthen its export capacity and position the country as a regional hub for Korean investment. “Kenya is moving with clarity and confidence in this era of global economic transformation,” he said. “Our ambition is to translate contact into contracts and leads into real deals that advance our shared economic priorities.”
The Principal Secretary highlighted the strong alignment between Kenya’s Vision 2030, the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA) and Korea’s advanced capabilities in technology, green manufacturing, precision agriculture and automotive development. He further pointed to key growth sectors including digital innovation, green energy, electric mobility and climate-resilient infrastructure. With Kenya already generating 92% of its electricity from clean energy sources and recently establishing a USD 40 million Green Investment Fund, the country is positioning itself as a competitive destination for sustainable investment.
In his remarks, Ambassador H.E. Kang Hyung-shik noted the long-standing diplomatic relations between the two nations, strengthened through major development initiatives such as the Nairobi Geothermal Technopolis and the Kenya Advanced Institute of Science and Technology. He affirmed Korea’s readiness to expand its economic footprint in Kenya and support initiatives that promote two-way trade and investment.
Throughout the forum, industry leaders explored opportunities in high-growth sectors including agriculture, green technology, ICT, healthcare and manufacturing. Korean delegates expressed confidence in Kenya’s investment environment, noting the success of Korean companies already operating in the country. They highlighted Kenya’s strong logistics network, strategic position within the East African Community (EAC) market and its rapidly growing innovation ecosystem as strong incentives for deeper commercial engagement.
Kenyan private sector representatives emphasised the need to scale the country’s export volumes, particularly in high-value commodities such as specialty teas, coffee, macadamia, cashew nuts, avocados and essential oils. Delegates agreed that positioning Kenyan products competitively in the Korean market will require strengthened standards compliance, improved market intelligence and sustained business-to-business linkages.
The forum concluded with a comprehensive set of action points to accelerate bilateral trade. These include establishing sector-specific working groups in coffee, tea, horticulture and technology to sustain continuous engagement; organising targeted delegations for Kenyan exporters and Korean buyers to enhance market understanding; and strengthening standards alignment to improve Kenya’s competitiveness in the Korean market. Participants affirmed that the Korea-Kenya partnership is transitioning into a more practical and results-oriented phase marked by structured collaboration and long-term investment planning. Delegates were also officially invited to reconvene during the Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) in March 2026, where further deal making and deeper sector-focused discussions are expected to build on the momentum generated at the forum.