Ruto champions digital trade, global partnerships at Kenya-EU Forum

Patricia Kamathe, Marketing Manager Aromakare display her products at Kenya School of Monetary Studies on May 6, 2025 [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

President William Ruto has outlined Kenya's vision to become a regional hub for software development, unveiling key measures at the Kenya-European Union Business Forum.
Ruto highlighted a reduction in the tax on digital asset transfers from 3 per cent to 1.5 per cent, a move he said, aimed at fostering a more investor-friendly business environment.
In his address on Monday, May 12, Ruto celebrated the transformative power of digital trade and expanding global economic partnerships.
"Through digitisation, we unlock innovation, catalyse industrialisation, and create seamless access to markets," he said, emphasising the government's commitment to nurturing start-ups and MSMEs.
Ruto also underscored Kenya's strategic trade agreements, connecting the country to markets across Africa, Europe, the United States, and the Gulf.
He highlighted agreements including the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the Kenya-EU Economic Partnership Agreement, and the U.S. AGOA, which he noted, offers access to markets worth $3.7 trillion, $19 trillion and $27 trillion, respectively.