Kenya, France investors push for deeper partnerships to unlock trade and investment

Investors and financial sector players from Kenya and France have called for stronger long-term partnerships to drive trade, investment and economic transformation between the two countries.

The discussions took place at Equity Centre in Nairobi during an engagement session held on the sidelines of the Africa Forward Summit, bringing together business leaders and institutional partners to explore investment opportunities, financing models and cross-border collaboration.

Speaking during the forum, Equity Bank Kenya Managing Director Moses Nyabanda said Africa continues to present strong investment opportunities, citing the continent’s growing consumer market and expanding regional integration.

“Africa is now truly bankable, and we've played our part; we'll continue to do that. The market that we offer you is at least 350 million consumers, and if you look at the trend of GDP per capita across the regions that we are looking at, it is the place to be,” he said.

Nyabanda added that Kenya remains strategically positioned as a gateway into East Africa and other regional markets.

“Kenya provides a fantastic gateway to not only the six markets that we have, but the wider East Africa region. And that's why we are here, for that conversation of how do we bring Kenyan businesses to align to our partners from France, how are we able to catalyse that? As Equity, we've passionately done that. We are looking at how to unlock value that sits within Africa, which is immense,” he said.

The meeting also focused on practical frameworks to support partnerships between Kenyan and French businesses, including access to financing, guarantees and risk-sharing mechanisms.

Martin Heslouin, Executive Director of the Council of Bpifrance, said the institution has been scaling up programmes aimed at connecting African businesses with French suppliers and investors.

“We have specific programmes for Africa. For a few years, we are bringing companies to Africa, and this is very important. And this is linked to our export business, where our core mission now for the team… is to connect Kenyan businesses and African businesses to French suppliers and French solutions, so that here you can grow the business of Kenyan companies, and you can get some guarantees or some loans to secure all the transactions,” he said.

Heslouin noted that the institution also offers advisory services, warranties and financing support to facilitate trade and investment across the value chain.

Gerard Wolf, Vice President of the Africa Committee of MEDEF International, urged stakeholders to focus on practical and investment-ready projects capable of attracting long-term capital.

“We have to be more practical and more pushy… the representative of the European Union was at this banquet, he's ready if he has good projects. And good projects are projects related to ecological transition, related to a better life, related to training the people,” he said.

Wolf further said French investors are seeking sustainable and long-term partnerships in sectors such as infrastructure, training and green development.

“The French private sector is already here, not only finding the wine for the state dinner, but we are here for infrastructure, we are here for long-term commitments, for long-term investment. We need, with you, to find the right way to de-risk part of it… But what we can give is that Team France will bring people who will not be here just to make a coup, but to build long-term partnerships,” he added.

The session concluded with calls for increased collaboration between Kenyan and French investors to unlock financing opportunities, scale businesses and support long-term economic growth.