Kenya, India Seal Collaborative Agreement Deal to Deepen Bilateral Trade
Nairobi, Kenya – May 26, 2025
Kenya and India have taken a bold step towards strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations following the signing of a strategic collaboration agreement between the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest) and the India Kenya Business Council (IKBC) during a landmark ceremony held at the Kenya-India Business Forum in Nairobi.
The collaboration will be implemented through joint business forums, trade missions, policy dialogue and investment promotion efforts. Key activities to include a major business delegation of over 600 Indian investors scheduled to visit Kenya for Business to Business (B2B) engagements later this year and investment roadshows planned across various Indian cities in partnership with KenInvest. The initiatives are designed to showcase Kenya’s investment potential and facilitate direct linkages between investors and local enterprises.
In his opening remarks, PS Abubakar Hassan Abubakar described the agreement as a “timely and strategic step” that will strengthen the institutional framework guiding investment relations between Kenya and India.
“Kenya and India enjoy a long-standing relationship rooted in shared history, people-to-people ties and increasingly dynamic economic engagement,” he said.
“This partnership institutionalizes cooperation around five high-impact pillars and is aligned with our broader strategy to attract quality and sustainable investment into Kenya,” he added.
The PS highlighted India's position as one of Kenya’s top trading partners and investors, especially in sectors covering pharmaceuticals, ICT and education. He pointed to existing initiatives such as the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) Programme, joint trade missions and growing private sector involvement in healthcare and education as strong foundations for the new agreement.
PS Abubakar Hassan underscored the Government of Kenya’s commitment to maintaining a favorable investment climate:“ We are committed to fast-tracking reforms that enhance investor confidence. Let this be the beginning of a more structured, impactful and results-driven partnership that benefits both our economies and our people,” he added
The event marked the formal signing of a collaborative agreement aimed at institutionalizing investment collaboration between Kenya and India, focusing on five strategic areas: investment facilitation, policy advocacy, business climate intelligence, Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) linkages and public-private engagement.
Other dignitaries at the high-level forum included the outgoing High Commissioner of India to Kenya Ms. Namgya Khampa, Dr. Juma Mukhwana, PS for Industry and Mr. Ken Mwendwa, CEO of KenInvest.
Ms. Namgya Khampa, who is transitioning to a new role as the Deputy Ambassador of India to the USA, called for accelerated implementation of collaborative agreement: “Let’s not let the agreement remain on paper. Let’s act. The sky is the limit in what Kenya and India can achieve together,” she said. She reaffirmed India’s role as one of Kenya’s top three training partners and expressed confidence in the future of the bilateral relationship.
PS Dr. Juma Mukhwana commended the Indian community for its historical and economic contributions to Kenya, while citing the $100 million line of credit from Exim Bank of India that is supporting County Aggregation Industrial Parks (CAIPs) across the country.
KenInvest CEO Ken Mwendwa presented data positioning Kenya as the 6th largest economy in Africa, with strong fundamentals in infrastructure, digital innovation, green energy and a robust regulatory environment. He identified key sectors contributing to the GDP including agriculture (21.8%), ICT/BPO (9%) and the blue economy (2.5%) and emphasized Kenya’s appeal as a launchpad for access to the East African and COMESA markets.
The agreement builds on long-standing diplomatic and economic ties between the two countries and aims to attract sustainable investment, foster business growth and create new opportunities in key sectors such as manufacturing, healthcare, ICT and renewable energy. Both sides agreed to leverage the agreement as a shared commitment and catalyst for investment, job creation and enhanced trade to deliver tangible results.