NAIROBI, Kenya – President William Ruto has urged Finnish companies to view Kenya as the gateway to Africa, highlighting the country’s growing digital economy, youthful population, and strategic position as key advantages for investors seeking opportunities on the continent.
Speaking at the Kenya–Finland Business Forum hosted by Nokia in Espoo, Finland, on Thursday, Ruto said Kenya was positioning itself as a hub for innovation, technology, and investment in Africa.
The President said the relationship between Kenya and Finland was evolving beyond traditional development cooperation into a partnership driven by trade, technology, and private sector investment.
“Our relationship is no longer premised on aid, but on mutual benefit; not on extraction, but on investment that creates value for all,” Ruto said.
He argued that Africa should be viewed as a solution to global challenges rather than a problem, noting that the continent possesses abundant natural resources, vast arable land, and the world’s youngest population.
According to Ruto, Kenya offers investors access to a market of 55 million people as well as the broader East African region and the African Continental Free Trade Area.
The President cited the success of M-PESA as evidence of Kenya’s ability to innovate and create globally relevant solutions.
“M-PESA changed how the world thinks about financial inclusion,” he said, noting that the platform processes billions of dollars annually and has significantly expanded access to financial services.
Ruto identified connectivity, data centres, fintech, digital skills, and investment as the five major opportunities for collaboration between Kenya and Finland.
He pointed to the government’s Digital Superhighway initiative and the expansion of fibre-optic infrastructure as key projects aimed at strengthening digital connectivity across the country.
The President also invited Finnish companies to invest in Kenya’s rapidly growing technology ecosystem, saying the country offers a stable financial environment, innovative entrepreneurs, and strong regional connectivity.
He urged businesses attending the forum to move beyond networking and pursue concrete partnerships capable of creating jobs, boosting trade, and driving economic growth across Africa.
