Kenya advances investment partnerships at Italy–Kenya economic forum

Invest Kenya is participating in the ongoing Italy–Kenya Economic Forum in Rome, where Kenya is actively engaging Italian investors and institutions to unlock strategic partnerships across priority sectors of the economy.

The forum has brought together more than 220 Italian companies and is advancing dialogue in key sectors including energy, agri-food, innovation, tourism, and manufacturing. This is building on engagements with Italian investors during the Kenya International Investment Conference (KIICO) 2026 held last, which hosted over 70 Italian investors.

Through structured Business to Business, Business to Government and Government to Government engagements, Kenya is presenting a pipeline of bankable opportunities aimed at accelerating investment flows and fostering long-term collaboration.

Supported by the Mattei Plan for Africa and the Kenya–EU Economic Partnership Agreement, the forum is reinforcing a strong foundation for joint ventures, technology transfer, and sustainable investment partnerships between Kenya and Italy.

The Italy–Kenya Economic Forum is expected to catalyze new investments, deepen bilateral trade relations, and accelerate Kenya’s position as a regional hub for manufacturing, value addition, and sustainable investment.

Italy remains a key strategic partner in Kenya’s investment agenda. In 2024, it ranked as the 16th largest source of foreign direct investment into Kenya, with nearly 50 Italian companies already operating across sectors such as food and beverage, energy, automotive, and agriculture.

At the forum, Invest Kenya CEO John Mwendwa outlined Kenya’s value proposition, positioning the country as the preferred gateway for investment into East and Central Africa and highlighting the country’s strategic location, improving business environment, and growing pipeline of investment-ready opportunities aligned to industrialization and export-led growth.

On the sidelines of the forum, Invest Kenya also held a strategic engagement with Cassa Depositi e Prestiti (CDP), Italy’s development finance institution and a key financial partner under the Mattei Plan. Discussions focused on mobilizing capital, strengthening collaboration frameworks, and exploring mechanisms to connect Italian investors with opportunities in Kenya.

As part of its targeted investor outreach, Kenya is showcasing high-growth sectors, with the leather industry emerging as a compelling example of the country’s industrialization potential.

Currently valued at approximately $80 million (KSh 10 billion), Kenya’s leather sector is projected to grow to about $850 million (KSh 115 billion) by 2040. With over 80 million livestock and one of the largest herd sizes globally, Kenya has a strong raw material base. The government is prioritizing a transition from exporting raw and semi-processed hides to producing finished leather goods, including a target of more than 40 million

pairs of shoes annually by 2040. Italy, as a global leader in leather production and home to world-renowned luxury and manufacturing brands, presents a natural partner for opportunities across the leather value chain, including tanneries, footwear manufacturing, chemical processing, and skills development.

Speaking at the forum, John Mwendwa, CEO of Invest Kenya, said: “Kenya is focused on building strong, long-term partnerships that unlock value across priority sectors of our economy. The Italy–Kenya Economic Forum provides a platform to connect investors with real opportunities on the ground. Sectors such as leather demonstrate the scale of opportunity available from raw material to finished product and the potential to deliver both commercial returns and meaningful economic impact.”

Invest Kenya continues to work closely with government agencies and private sector partners to facilitate investment, support project development, and position Kenya as a leading destination for global capital in Africa.