NAIROBI, Kenya, Nov 11 – Three leading companies from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) have expressed interest in investing in Kenya’s port and shipping infrastructure through public-private partnerships (PPPs), as the Gulf nation deepens its trade and investment footprint in East Africa.
Gulftainer, a global port management and logistics company, plans to co-finance the rehabilitation of Mombasa Port’s older berths and enter into a 25-year PPP for the modernization and operation of berths 11–14. The firm is also exploring the launch of a direct shipping line to improve regional connectivity and trade efficiency across the Indian Ocean corridor.
Similarly, BEEAH Group, a UAE government-backed conglomerate with interests in energy, waste management, healthcare, and real estate, is seeking renewable energy and sustainability partnerships with Kenyan counties to promote green infrastructure and clean energy initiatives.
The Etihad Credit Insurance (ECI), the UAE’s federal export credit agency, also announced plans to support trade and investment between the two countries through clean energy financing and risk insurance. In 2023, ECI committed $500 million in credit insurance for Africa’s clean energy sector under the UAE’s $4.5 billion Africa Green Investment Initiative.
The announcements were made during the UAE–Kenya Trade and Investment Forum, jointly organized by the Kenya Investment Authority (Invest Kenya) and the Sharjah Exports Development Center, an initiative of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).
The event brought together senior government officials and a high-level trade delegation from the UAE to strengthen bilateral trade and investment cooperation while exploring new opportunities in Kenya’s priority sectors, including logistics, renewable energy, and infrastructure.
In 2024, UAE foreign direct investment (FDI) in Kenya hit USD 121 million, making the UAE Kenya’s sixth-largest source of foreign investment.
“Kenya is open for business, and our partnership with the UAE is a cornerstone of our national economic strategy,” said Regina Akoth Ombam, Principal Secretary, State Department for Trade.
“This forum demonstrates our shared resolve to create meaningful trade and investment linkages that deliver tangible outcomes for both countries. We are focused on attracting quality investments that create jobs and support our industrialization goals.”
By Faith Masita
