The 11th Edition of China Trade Week (CTW), alongside three specialized co-located exhibitors: Megawatt Africa, Africa Build Show, and Africa Technology Show, has officially kicked off in Nairobi, targeting enhanced trade ties, economic diversification, and investment opportunities between Kenya and the global business community.
Speaking during the opening ceremony, Edwin Masivo, the country director of Global Exhibitions Inc. (a subsidiary of MIE Group), reflected on the decade-long evolution of the platform, noting that its primary mission remains bridging real trade between China and East Africa.
“Eleven years ago, we stood here and launched China Trade Week to build a bridge for real trade between China and East Africa. Today, I can confidently say that that bridge has grown into something much bigger,” Masivo recalled.
“Over the next three days, this is not just an exhibition showcase. We have a robust schedule of B2B (business to business) meetings that will connect Chinese and Kenyan companies, directly matching supply with demand and technology with need,” he added.
Masivo recognized key government stakeholders, including the State Department of Energy and the State Department of Broadcasting and Telecommunications, alongside high-level trade delegations from China’s Jiangsu and Shaanxi provinces.
In an effort to drive investment and sectoral growth that is favorable to Kenya’s strategic position in regional commerce, Zahoor Ahmed, the vice president of MIE Group, highlighted the event’s role in facilitating foreign direct investment (FDI) and business-to-government (B2G) collaborations.
He noted that Kenya’s early ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) positioned the nation at the forefront of continental economic growth.
“MIE Group is very clear: we work very diligently with and develop a stronger economic economy for Kenya,” Ahmed asserted, pointing out that this is a progressive foreign direct investment platform where investment decisions are made, partnerships are formed, and hopefully policies are driven to service the private sector growth.
Ahmed added that over 100 international exhibitors are participating in the event, which features high-level G2G conferences, technical summits, and structured B2B matchmaking sessions across the energy, construction, technology, and trade sectors.
Mr. David Wang, the Chairman of MIE Group, recalled the establishment of China Trade Week in alignment with national trade initiatives aimed at providing a secure platform for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to access international markets.
Wang highlighted that the organization’s local footprint has grown significantly over 11 editions, expanding from a small team to employing nearly 40 local staff members in Kenya.
“SMEs want to enter the new market, but they need to be in a group; they cannot be individuals due to market challenges, distance, and language barriers,” Wang explained. “The China model on this region is approved; we encourage Kenyan businessmen, whether startups or established, to make connections and bring trust to this market.”
On the other hand, the Energy and Petroleum Principal Secretary (PS), Alex Kamau Wachira, in a speech delivered on his behalf by the Secretary for Electrical Power Development, Eng. Thomas Karungu, said reliable and affordable energy remains the backbone of economic growth and industrial development.
“Energy is not one among many; it is the foundation upon which every productive sector depends. Manufacturing cannot expand without reliable and competitively priced electricity,” Wachira stated.
The PS noted that clean energy sources, including geothermal, hydro, wind, and solar, currently account for nearly 90 percent of electricity supplied to the national grid.
He revealed that the government, through the Kenya National Energy Compact, is targeting 100 percent renewable electricity generation and universal access to electricity and clean cooking by 2030.
Further, Wachira disclosed that the government plans to expand the national electricity transmission network by 8,000 kilometers and increase transformation capacity by 12,000 megavolt-amperes (MVA) to meet the country’s growing energy demand.
He also called on international investors, particularly from China, to invest in local assembling, component manufacturing, and technology transfer to strengthen Kenya’s industrial base.
Meanwhile, Energy and Petroleum Regulatory Authority (EPRA) Director General, Dr. Eng. Joseph Oketch, in a speech delivered on his behalf by Acting Director of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Eng. Boniface Kinyanjui, assured investors of a predictable and supportive regulatory environment.
“Our mandate is to ensure that our people and our industries have access to energy that is safe, reliable, affordable, and sustainable,” outlined Oketch, adding that the Authority continues to strengthen licensing and tariff-setting frameworks to support Africa’s industrialisation.
Broadcasting and Telecommunications Principal Secretary Stephen Isaboke, in remarks delivered on his behalf by Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board Chief Executive Officer Lilian Kimeto, said the government is implementing ambitious programs to expand digital connectivity across the country.
He announced that the government is laying 100,000 kilometers of fiber optic cable and has digitized more than 22,000 public services through the e-Citizen platform to improve service delivery and create opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship.
“In Kenya, technology is no longer viewed merely as a supportive factor but as a foundational infrastructure driving our nation forward,” established the PS.
He added that the government’s role is to establish digital infrastructure that will enable young innovators and entrepreneurs to develop solutions that drive economic growth.
In the meantime, the three-day trade exhibition is set to bring together policymakers, international investors, and local entrepreneurs to explore cross-sector opportunities in power generation, building materials, ICT, and digital innovation.
By Ian Maina and Tonny Omollo
