BRUSSELS, Belgium — President William Ruto has urged European investors to treat Kenya as a strategic entry point into Africa, as he officially launched the Kenya–Benelux Chamber of Commerce (KBCC) in Brussels.
The Chamber, which brings together business interests from Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg, is expected to deepen trade and investment ties between Kenya and the Benelux region while strengthening Kenya’s positioning within European markets.
Speaking at the launch, Ruto said Kenya offers a competitive investment environment anchored on renewable energy capacity, a skilled workforce, and its strategic location as a regional hub for East Africa.
He told investors that establishing operations in Kenya provides direct access not only to the East African Community (EAC) market but also to the broader African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which brings together over 50 African economies in a single trading bloc.
A key pillar of Kenya’s pitch to investors was its energy mix, which the President said is dominated by renewable sources.
Ruto noted that more than 90 percent of Kenya’s electricity is generated from geothermal, hydro, and wind power, positioning the country as one of the leading green energy economies in Africa and a potentially attractive destination for industries seeking low-carbon production bases.
“Do not buy Africa’s raw materials and add value elsewhere. Come and build with us,” the President said, calling on European firms to invest in manufacturing and local value addition rather than exporting raw commodities.
The President also emphasized the need to strengthen logistical and maritime trade links between Africa and Europe, particularly through closer cooperation between the Port of Antwerp-Bruges and the Port of Mombasa.
He said improved connectivity would help lower trade costs and enhance the efficiency of supply chains between the two regions.
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During his engagements in Brussels, Ruto also held discussions with senior European Union officials focused on expanding trade relations and addressing existing barriers affecting the Kenya–EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA).
He reaffirmed Kenya’s commitment to maintaining a stable and predictable investment climate, saying the government is focused on creating a rules-based environment that supports long-term economic partnerships and foreign direct investment.
The Brussels visit forms part of Ruto’s broader diplomatic and economic outreach in Europe, as Kenya seeks to strengthen its role as a regional trade and investment gateway amid intensifying global competition for capital and industrial partnerships.
