Kenya prepares to host global Industrial Parks Conference

Preparations are underway to host this year's International Association of Industrial Parks (IASP) conference in Kenya.

With a focus on demographics, entrepreneurship, and technology, stakeholders described the upcoming conferences as a defining event for businesses entrepreneurship, and innovation in the country.

Industry and investment stakeholders said the summit slated for September 24 is also expected to cement Kenya's place as an economic, manufacturing, and logistics hub globally.

"We are working at growing our manufacturing products exports into the European Union, United States, and the African market., so that these industrial parks contribute to manufacturing and increased exports," said Industry Principal Secretary Juma Mukwana.

"I think it would be good to see the global perspective that Kenya is looking at, not just being the East African Leader, the African leader, we are also looking at good initiatives that will allow us to grow our manufacturing exports,'' PS added.

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PS Mukwana spoke alongside government and IASP officials during this week's preparatory meeting in Nairobi.

According to the UN COMTRADE database, Kenya exported 1.32 billion dollars to the EU market in 2022 alone and exported more than 600 million dollars worth of goods to the US market within the same period.

Kenya's Konza Technopolis is expecting to welcome over 350 science-Konza technopolis, forming IASP membership from over 80 countries.

It won its bid to host the African continent's second IASP summit in September last year in Luxembourg.

IASP Chief Executive Officer Eba Lund noted that "start-ups, medium-sized enterprises and big corporates," will benefit from the summit which brings together science and technology parks around the world.

"It will help innovative solutions come out in societies and help address different problems in society such as climate and sustainability," she said.

Abubakar Hassan (investment), Beatrice Inyangala (higher education), Eng John Tanui (ICT), IASP CEO Eva Lund, and the chair of the Konza board prof Raphael Munavu are among the dignitaries who grazed the preparation event.