NAIROBI, Kenya — The National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi on Monday held talks with Finland’s Ambassador to Kenya, Riina-Riikka Heikka, aimed at redefining the two countries’ longstanding relationship from aid-based cooperation to mutual investment and trade-driven partnership.
During the courtesy call at the National Treasury Building, Mbadi praised the decades-long cordial relations between Kenya and Finland, describing them as rooted in “mutual respect, shared values, and a steadfast commitment to sustainable development.”
He emphasized the need to move beyond traditional donor frameworks and embrace a modern partnership anchored on investment, value addition, and industrial transformation.
“Kenya is establishing a stable, predictable, and sustainable environment for investors. We welcome Finnish firms to explore ventures in manufacturing, renewable energy, and value addition — areas aligned with our national development priorities,” Mbadi said.
The CS urged Finnish enterprises to take advantage of Kenya’s rapidly evolving economy, particularly sectors that promote job creation, innovation, and climate-smart industrialization.
Ambassador Heikka lauded the warm relations between Nairobi and Helsinki, noting Finland’s continued support through Finnfund and the Private Infrastructure Fund (PIF), both of which have contributed significantly to private sector growth in Kenya.
She said Finnfund, Finland’s development finance institution, has been instrumental in financing projects in clean energy, agribusiness, healthcare, and financial inclusion, all aimed at enhancing sustainable development and resilience against climate change.
“Our collaboration through Finnfund and the Private Infrastructure Fund continues to strengthen Kenya’s private sector. We are proud to see Finnish investments driving value addition and sustainable growth, especially in health and green industries,” Ambassador Heikka remarked.
The envoy reaffirmed Finland’s commitment to deepen cooperation with Kenya in trade, investment, and sustainable development, recognizing Kenya’s role as a strategic economic hub in the region.
Mbadi, in turn, reiterated Kenya’s readiness to work closely with Finland in energy transition, environmental management, and green industrialization, aligning with the government’s Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA), Vision 2030, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The meeting signals a new phase in Kenya–Finland relations, moving from traditional development assistance to shared prosperity through sustainable investment and innovation.
