On December 12, 2025, the “Kenya Market Investment Opportunity Promotion Conference” was successfully held in Dongguan. Focusing on Kenya’s investment policies, industrial opportunities, and park resources, this event helped local enterprises in the city to accurately connect with the African market and expand new space for cross-border investment.
Yin Xiaoliang, Vice President of Dongguan Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Dongguan Chamber of International Commerce), and George Olaka, Country CEO of ARISE IIP Kenya, along with other leaders and guests, attended the conference. More than 60 representatives from relevant Kenyan government departments and enterprises also participated in the event.
In his speech, Vice President Yin Xiaoliang stated that the traditional friendship between China and Kenya has stood the test of time and the foundation for cooperation is solid. China has been Kenya’s largest trading partner and import source country for many consecutive years, and China-Kenya cooperation has transcended the scope of simple trade. Various cooperation projects have benefited people’s livelihoods, forming a sound pattern of industrial chain complementarity and value chain win-win. As an investment hotspot in East Africa, Kenya has significant location advantages and enormous development potential. It is hoped that this promotion conference will serve as an opportunity to deepen the level of cooperation between Dongguan and Kenya and contribute to building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
In his opening speech, George Olaka, Country CEO of ARISE IIP Kenya, pointed out that as a core member of the East African Community, Kenya boasts the advantage of being a logistics hub connecting 12 inland African countries and the market and labor dividend brought by its 55 million population. Among them, the Wepango Special Economic Zone (SEZ), as the core engine for promoting industrial development, has built a sustainable and diversified industrial ecosystem for enterprises investing in Kenya. He looks forward to further deepening cooperation with Dongguan enterprises and sharing development opportunities in the future.
Subsequently, Laban Kiru Mbru, Minister of Emerging Industries Investment at the Kenya Investment Authority, systematically interpreted Kenya’s investment policies and industrial opportunities, and elaborated on business opportunities in key sectors such as minerals, wood processing, and renewable energy. Francis Gitu, Director of Supervision and Compliance at the Kenya Special Economic Zones Authority, promoted the development positioning, location advantages, and entry paths for Dongguan enterprises in the Wepango Special Economic Zone.
Fei Binhe, Senior Account Manager of China Export & Credit Insurance Corporation (Sinosure), introduced the practical application of policy-based financial tools in reducing the risks of enterprises “going global”, and gave professional explanations on common risks and insurance protection methods for enterprises during their investment in Kenya. Luo Haina from Guangdong Junxin Jinglun Junhou Law Firm conducted in-depth analysis of key links such as land and factories, labor employment, taxation, and foreign exchange, combining real cases of enterprises investing and setting up factories in Kenya, providing actionable practical references for enterprises.
A signing ceremony for the cooperation agreement between “Dongguan-Africa Trade and Investment Cooperation Alliance (Preparatory) – Kenya Wepango Special Economic Zone” was held at the event site. As the first African national special economic zone to join, it will lay a foundation for pragmatic cooperation between the two sides in areas such as park construction, project undertaking, and investment promotion.
During the on-site Q&A session, enterprise representatives actively raised questions regarding land policies, import and export procedures, foreign exchange management, and tax incentives, creating a lively atmosphere for communication.
This event was hosted by the Dongguan Council for the Promotion of International Trade and the Kenya Investment Authority, and undertaken by the Dongguan Chamber of International Commerce and the Dongguan-Africa Trade and Investment Cooperation Alliance (Preparatory). It was supported by Sinosure Dongguan Branch, Shengfei (Shanghai) Business Management Consulting Co., Ltd., Guangdong Junxin Jinglun Junhou Law Firm, and Dongguan Translation Association. Going forward, the Dongguan Council for the Promotion of International Trade (Dongguan Chamber of International Commerce) will continue to integrate resources, accelerate the preparation of the Dongguan-Africa Trade and Investment Cooperation Alliance, and help enterprises steadily enter the African market.
