Kenya and India Forge New Tech Partnerships to Boost Innovation and Growth

Nairobi, Kenya – July 16, 2025

Kenya and India Deepen Tech Ties as KNCCI Hosts Indian Knowledge Industries Delegation

In a significant stride toward strengthening South-South cooperation, the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KNCCI) has welcomed a high-level delegation from India’s Association of Small and Medium Knowledge Industries (ASMKI) to explore new frontiers in technology, innovation, and enterprise collaboration.

Led by ASMKI President Shri Nalin Kohli, the Indian delegation held meetings with Kenyan entrepreneurs, innovators, and policymakers to chart a path for joint ventures in key sectors including software development, electronics, biotechnology, and clean energy. The dialogue marks a growing synergy between the two countries’ innovation ecosystems, with a shared vision of leveraging knowledge-based industries to drive inclusive economic growth.

KNCCI President Dr. Erick Rutto hailed the partnership as both timely and strategic, emphasizing India’s globally respected SME ecosystem as a model of resilience and scalability. “Kenya must tap into global expertise to accelerate our digital and industrial transformation. This partnership with ASMKI provides a vital link to advanced knowledge and will help spur innovation-led job creation,” he said.

Among the concrete outcomes of the engagement were plans for joint training initiatives, support for local tech hubs, and a commitment to foster long-term collaboration in skills development. ASMKI also announced its intent to host a major technology summit in late 2025, aimed at connecting Indian and African knowledge-driven enterprises.

KNCCI has pledged to rally key stakeholders from government ministries, academia, and the private sector to actively participate in the summit, positioning Kenya as a leading gateway for tech partnerships across Africa.

The visit underscores the rising significance of South-South trade and innovation diplomacy, as emerging economies like Kenya and India seek to build mutually beneficial alliances grounded in shared technological aspirations and entrepreneurial dynamism.