NAIROBI, July 21 (NNN-KBC) — Kenya’s Principal Secretary of the State Department for MSMEs Development, Susan Mang’eni, has asked SMEs to seize business opportunities in the Horn of Africa region.
She advocated for economic diplomacy among neighbouring countries during the Global Somali Entrepreneurial Forum 2025 held in Nairobi on July 19-20.
“The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) protocol for youth and women in trade is an example of such an underutilised opportunity due to a lack of trade financing, disjointed payment systems, and inadequate infrastructure,” she added.
She further urged financial institutions to develop tailored instruments that will spur intra-African trade.
The forum was organised to harness the business potential in the Horn of Africa region, recognising that our markets, challenges, and opportunities are deeply interconnected and regional cooperation leverages our shared entrepreneurial expertise and unlocks investments across the region.
This cooperation between countries in the Horn of Africa region will further channel diaspora capital into long-term investments through structured vehicles, such as SME funds, co-investment platforms, and innovation hubs that are transparent, inclusive, and future-focused.
PS Susan Mangeni reassured of the government’s commitment to build an enabling environment where enterprises of all sizes can grow, supported by reforms to enhance ease of doing business, improve access to finance, and attract meaningful investment.
The government is also working closely with the private sector to promote innovation, drive job creation, and enhance regional trade, she added.
Other leaders present at the event included Aden Duale, Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Health; Amb. Philip Thigo, Special Envoy on Technology of Kenya, and Jibril Ibrahim Abdulle, Ambassador of Somalia to the Republic of Kenya. — NNN-KBC
