Kenya will next month host the 8th edition of the Kenya International Industrial Expo at the Sarit Expo Centre, Nairobi.
It will start on September 4 and end on September 6.
The expo will feature more than 200 international exhibitors, primarily from China, and attract more than 6,000 business visitors and trade delegates.
Organised by Afripeak Expo Kenya Ltd in
partnership with the Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(KNCCI) and the Kenya Investment Authority (KenInvest), the expo’s theme
is ‘Investing in tomorrow – trading for prosperity’.
The event aims to bolster Kenya’s industrial growth by connecting local enterprises with global manufacturers, suppliers, investors and innovators across key sectors.
They include construction and infrastructure, manufacturing and machinery, energy and green technologies, automotive and transport and textiles, ICT, and agricultural equipment.
“The Kenya International Industrial Expo is more than an exhibition; it’s a platform for innovation, partnership and industrial transformation,” Afripeak Expo Kenya Ltd managing director Gao Wei said.
“This year, we expect greater engagement as global exhibitors bring tailored solutions to meet Africa’s evolving industrial needs.”
KNCCI president Erick Rutto said, “Industrial growth must be at the very heart of our agenda. It is the engine that drives job creation, enhances productivity and fosters innovation. This expo is not just about showcasing products, it is about building Kenya’s industrial future.”
“Manufacturing today contributes just 7.6 per cent to our GDP–far below the target of 15 per cent. But the opportunity before us is immense.”
“Research shows that a one per cent increase in manufacturing output generates at least 200,000 jobs directly and indirectly across value chains. This is how we can empower our youth, uplift SMEs and secure our economic future.”
The expo comes as Kenya-China bilateral trade surpassed $8 billion (about Sh1.03 trillion) in 2024, with China remaining Kenya’s leading source of imports, especially in industrial equipment, electronics and construction materials.
The expo leverages this momentum by fostering direct business linkages and showcasing advanced yet affordable technologies.
Aligned with Kenya Vision 2030 and the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, the expo supports technology transfer and skills development, access to global markets for Kenyan products, SME growth through B2B connections and financing networks and promotion of sustainable industrial practices.
Kenya’s strategic location, skilled labour force and regional integration through EAC and AfCFTA, positions it as a gateway to Africa’s 1.3-billion-person market.
The expo reinforces this role by attracting regional and international buyers, distributors and policymakers.
Exhibitors will showcase innovations across multiple sectors. There will also be high-level forums on trade and investment dialogues with policy leaders and industry experts and attendees will have first-hand look at industrial technologies suited for Africa
KNCCI and the Kenya Investment Authority have urged businesses, investors and industry professionals to attend and explore the vast trade and investment opportunities on offer.
“Our vision is clear,” Gao said.
“To make the Kenya International Industrial Expo the leading industrial platform in Africa—where global innovation meets African opportunity.”
