Douglas Mwiti 
KNCCI in partnership with our Patron Member, Ecobank Kenya Limited, organized a breakfast meeting that brought together diverse companies, including members such as Javans Coffee Ltd, Illonito Designs, English Press Limited Press, Haco Industries Kenya Limited, Magnate Flowers, Nation Media Group, Sheffield Limited, Buruk General, Sunrays Limited, and KTDA – Kenya Tea Development Agency.
During his remarks, KNCCI President Dr. Erick Rutto expressed gratitude for the economic partnerships fostered within regional economic blocs and encouraged continued dialogue to strengthen the regional economy, while at the same time highlighting the recent ICGLR-PSF Conference, which convened delegates from 12 member states, where he serves as Chairman.
He also announced an ongoing capacity-building program for SMEs in partnership with TradeMark Africa to enhance growth of SMEs in Kenya.
He expressed appreciation for the strong economic partnerships within regional blocs and encouraged deeper discussions to grow the regional economy, highlighting Kenya’s progress, including $3 million in exports to China through the KNCCI China Office and the iSOKO e-commerce platform’s 80,000 users across East Africa—where Ecobank could support with a unified transaction system.
Looking to the future, he introduced the highly anticipated WCF Africa Summit 2025 in Nairobi—a landmark event that will bring together over 70 countries, positioning Kenya and Africa as dynamic global investment destinations.
Businesses were encouraged to leverage KNCCI’s vast network and Ecobank’s support to access the Pan-African market, noting the challenge of trade finance, which continues to impact SMEs, as indicated by the KNCCI business barometer for Q4 2024.
Nation Media Group’s General Manager expressed appreciation for the strong partnership with KNCCI, highlighted on commitment to promoting SME growth through dedicated content.
On behalf of the Principal Secretary of Trade, Alfred K’Obonyo, Mr. Michael Mandu conveyed the State Department’s appreciation for KNCCI’s advocacy on behalf of Kenyan businesses. He also acknowledged the challenges SMEs, particularly those led by women, face in accessing finance for cross-border trade.
He highlighted AfCFTA as an exceptional opportunity for Kenya to expand its trade and export network. Realizing this vision requires a supportive policy environment to position Kenya as a leading trade and investment hub in Africa.
In her presentation, Ecobank Kenya’s Managing Director, Josephine Anan shared Ecobank Group’s commitment to providing end-to-end financial solutions that connect seamlessly with businesses, aiming to build a world-class Pan-African bank that supports economic development and financial integration across Africa.
