Ruto urges Japan to invest in Kenya's tech and green economy

President William Ruto at 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan.[PCS] President William Ruto has urged Japanese investors to scale up their presence in Kenya, highlighting opportunities in technology, renewable energy, and green growth as priority areas for collaboration. Speaking at the 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan, the president noted that Kenya's partnership with Japan has deepened in trade, investment and development. "Kenya is open and ready for business. We are inviting investment partnerships that deliver strong returns and shared prosperity. Let us work together to create jobs and lead the way in sustainable development," the president said. President William Ruto attends the opening ceremony of the Ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD 9) in Yokohama, Japan pic.twitter.com/gg1KpA5fto - The Standard Digital (@StandardKenya) August 20, 2025 The president said Japan is currently Kenya's third-largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), contributing over Sh 26.49 billion in 2024. Currently, more than 120 Japanese companies operate in Kenya across various sectors, including manufacturing, energy, and technology, contributing to job creation and technology transfer. "Kenya has a long-standing economic partnership with Japan. Our trade reached Sh 117.96 billion in 2024, a 33per cent increase from the previous year. Japanese investment is visible in projects such as Mombasa Port, Olkaria Geothermal Plant, and automotive assembly plants," Ruto said. The President identified five priority areas aligned with Kenya's Vision 2030 and Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), including agriculture, healthcare, digital economy, manufacturing, and climate action. He outlined digitalisation, healthcare, agriculture, automotive manufacturing and climate action as possible areas of collaboration. He emphasised that Kenya's strategic location, youthful workforce and renewable energy mix make it one of the most attractive destinations for investment on the continent. "Our country boasts a large pool of well-educated, tech-savvy young people adequately equipped to drive innovation across all sectors," Ruto said, adding that Kenya's energy grid is already over 90 per cent renewable. Ruto also pitched the newly established Sh 5.17 billion Green Investment Fund, seeking to mobilise up to Sh 129.2 billion for SMEs to support projects in electric mobility, sustainable agriculture, and waste management. "The Fund will support small and medium enterprises, which contribute up to 80per cent of employment, to undertake green investments. I strongly encourage Japanese fund managers to invest," he said. The President also pointed to Kenya's projected GDP growth of 5.5 per cent in 2025, a stable shilling, and single-digit inflation as signs of economic resilience. He further highlighted Kenya's access to major global markets through trade agreements such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), AGOA, the EU Economic Partnership Agreement, and the UK-Kenya trade pact. "Just as Yokohama is Japan's gateway to the world, Kenya is your gateway to East Africa and the wider African continent," Ruto said. Ruto also encouraged Japanese sporting institutions to tap into Kenyan talent beyond athletics, citing rugby, volleyball and football, while praising exchange programmes between Kenyan and Japanese schools.

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Ruto urges Japan to invest in Kenya's tech and green economy

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