Kenya provides opportunities for Swiss cleantech

Participants from Switzerland and Kenya have shown at an online conference held by S-GE how the Swiss cleantech industry can help the East African country with Vision 2030. This government plan envisages Kenya’s complete implementation of the energy revolution by this time, among other things. The circular economy is also included in this.

As Valentin Zellweger, Ambassador of Switzerland to Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, Somalia, and Uganda, stated in his introduction, this is an opportunity for innovative solutions from the Swiss cleantech sector. More than 70 Swiss companies are already active in Kenya, which is considered to be the gateway to the rest of Africa.

Representatives from S-GE, KEPSA (the Kenya Private Sector Alliance umbrella organization), and Swiss Business Hub Southern Africa took part in the discussion. Additionally, a few companies based in Kenya presented their efforts and needs with regard to sustainability: Mr. Green Africa collects plastic waste from private individuals and sells it back to industry as a raw product. Olivado produces avocado oil in the central highlands and has developed and built its own biomass plant to reduce waste and generate energy. OFGEN provides innovative solar solutions.

OFGEN’s CEO, Geoffrey Ronoh, noted how desirable the engagement of Swiss investors was for building production facilities, which would do away with costly imports of components and products. Furthermore, he added that Kenya needs software to minimize energy loss and save money and stated that direct trade between Switzerland and Kenya must be ensured. To this end, Ambassador Zellweger has promised a trade drive between the two countries. It is expected to start as early as Q1 2023. Ronoh and other participants additionally expressed the importance of direct contact with local agents.

Marcel Bruhwiler has been the Infrastructure Manager for Southern and East Africa at the International Finance Corporation (IFC) since 2012 and previously was active within the Bühler Group in Johannesburg for eight years. He identified three key areas of activity for Kenya’s infrastructural growth above all else: It requires “a tech hub and tech jobs for faster internet connections” as well as public-private partnerships for solutions regarding urbanization, clean water, waste management, and urban mobility. Moreover, Kenya’s progress in renewable energy and with a decentralized energy supply could also have a positive impact on the development of other African countries. He believes that affordability is a key topic: anyone dedicated to cleantech in Africa may have to consider limited financial opportunities.

S-GE is organizing a trip to Kenya in February for company representatives. This may be held in parallel with an official visit to the East African country from State Secretary Helene Budliger Artieda, Director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO).