Atlas Copco bets on Kenya as East Africa hub amid regional industrial growth

The announcement comes as the company marks 90 years of operations in Kenya, where it now manages business across approximately 14 East African markets from its Nairobi office.

Speaking during the anniversary celebrations, Atlas Copco's President of the Power Technique Service Division, Stefan Vertriest, said East Africa remains one of the company's fastest-growing regions despite global economic uncertainties.

"We see development in almost every business area where we operate. Mining is growing, manufacturing is expanding, and we continue to invest because we believe the future for East Africa is very promising," said Vertriest.

The company said it has expanded its footprint by introducing Industrial Technique operations to support the region's growing automotive assembly and manufacturing sector, while also venturing into industrial cooling and dewatering solutions to meet rising demand from industry.

Atlas Copco Regional General Manager for East and Central Africa, Raphael Kiandiko, said rapid industrialisation across East Africa was creating new business opportunities.

"New industries are emerging, mining is scaling up across the region, and we continue identifying new segments where we can bring value. The region continues to offer tremendous opportunities," he said.

The company also announced plans to deepen investments in digital technologies, with artificial intelligence, remote monitoring and predictive maintenance becoming central to its service delivery model.

Engineers based in Nairobi currently monitor thousands of connected machines operating across East Africa, enabling real-time diagnostics and predictive maintenance that help customers reduce equipment downtime and improve operational efficiency.

Atlas Copco said it is also responding to growing demand for environmentally sustainable industrial solutions by investing in hybrid power systems, battery energy storage, variable-speed compressors and solar-powered lighting technologies aimed at reducing energy costs and carbon emissions.

Beyond equipment sales, the company said its business model focuses on providing long-term technical support throughout the lifecycle of machinery, noting that some customer equipment has remained operational for nearly five decades through continuous servicing.

Meanwhile, Sweden's Acting Ambassador to Kenya, Sophie Hilbom Kalin, said the European Union-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) presents significant opportunities to deepen trade and investment between Kenya and Europe.

She noted that while trade volumes remain below potential, the agreement provides a framework that could encourage more Swedish companies to establish operations in Kenya while expanding market access for Kenyan exports to Europe.

"I think there is a demand and that can increase a lot. We do have a free trade agreement between the European Union and Kenya, which should create the conditions for trade and investment to flow between Europe and Kenya. So, it's definitely great potential," Kalin said.

According to the envoy, about 40 Swedish companies currently operate in Kenya, with Atlas Copco among the country's longest-established Swedish investors.

She called for a stable and predictable policy environment to attract more foreign investment, saying stronger economic cooperation between Kenya and Sweden could unlock greater opportunities for businesses in both countries.

Atlas Copco's renewed investment plans underscore Kenya's growing importance as a regional industrial hub, as multinational companies increasingly use Nairobi as a gateway to the wider East African market amid accelerating industrialisation and infrastructure development across the region.