Kisumu County is set to host the second edition of the Business Ecosystem Summit from August 6 to 8 to strengthen regional economic cooperation and attract high-impact investments to the Lake region.
The three-day summit is organised by The IMC People, a communication and marketing agency, in collaboration with the government of Kisumu and the Lake Region Economic Bloc. It will bring together thousands of stakeholders from Kenya and across the East African region.
Delegates will include government officials, private sector players, financial institutions, international investors, and development partners.
The BES 2025 aims to connect micro, small and medium enterprises with global investment networks, expand market access, and unlock critical financing opportunities in sectors such as logistics, tourism, clean energy, agribusiness, and the blue economy.
Speaking during a pre-summit briefing, Kisumu Deputy Governor Mathews Owili said the event signals growing confidence in Kisumu’s potential as an investment and innovation hub in Western Kenya.
“Kisumu is ready for business. With Lake Victoria as a gateway to East Africa, we are strategically positioned to grow regional trade, attract global investments, and drive innovation across key sectors.”
He said the success of the inaugural BES 2023, which attracted over 9,000 participants and facilitated deals worth over $400 million, laid a strong foundation for the region’s growing investment profile.
The summit also helped Kisumu secure the 2024 AfSNET conference, which led to Sh52 billion in funding for a local pharmaceutical plant.
Owili highlighted the ongoing revitalisation of the Kisumu port and marine infrastructure, terming it a game-changer for regional trade.
He added that the county was banking on the blue economy to drive job creation and investment in fisheries, aquaculture, water transport, clean energy, and eco-tourism.
“We are working with national and regional partners to re-establish Lake Victoria as a viable commercial transport route,” he said.
LREB CEO Victor Nyagaya urged investors to back high-impact, transformative projects that will benefit communities across the 14 counties of the economic bloc.
He highlighted the need for strategic public-private partnerships to build resilient economies.
“PPPs are key to achieving our development goals. We are creating a conducive investment environment complete with harmonised policy frameworks, streamlined approvals, and strong accountability mechanisms,” Nyagaya said.
“Let us form partnerships that deliver clean energy to homes, fund climate-smart irrigation, build innovation hubs, create circular waste solutions, grow the blue economy, and transform lives across the region.”
Jeanette Oromo, chief executive officer of The IMC People, said BES 2025 will feature high-level policy discussions, sector-specific investment forums, matchmaking sessions, and an interactive marketplace showcasing local innovations and products.
The summit is expected to host 600 official delegates and attract over 9,000 marketplace visitors, with 250 targeted investors set to explore public and private sector projects from the LREB counties.
“BES 2025 is about strengthening the foundations of business ecosystems in Africa. We are not reinventing the wheel; we're greasing it for faster movement through practical partnerships and sustainable policies,” Oromo said.
