Kenya, Finland deepen digital economy ties to boost investment and innovation
By Sharon Atieno, June 12, 2026Kenya and Finland have deepened cooperation in the digital economy following a high-level business forum that brought together government and private sector leaders from both countries to explore new investment and innovation opportunities.
In a statement shared on its X account on Friday, June 11, 2026, the Kenya Investment Authority (InvestKenya) said the Kenya–Finland Business Forum, held under the leadership of President William Ruto and President Alexander Stubb, focused on strengthening digital trade, infrastructure and skills development.
The statement noted that the discussions prioritised expansion of secure and affordable connectivity through fibre, 5G and private networks, alongside scaling data centres and cloud infrastructure to support artificial intelligence and digital public services.
“Kenya’s ICT sector contributes 9% of GDP, with the digital economy projected to surpass USD 12 billion by 2026, anchored by strong connectivity and a leading mobile money ecosystem,” the statement read.
Fintech, skills and investment focus
Discussions also centred on deepening fintech and digital finance innovation, leveraging Kenya’s mobile money ecosystem and enabling regulatory environment to support cross-border digital growth and investment.
Additional focus areas included strengthening digital skills and talent development through institutional collaboration and mobilising investment to scale infrastructure and innovation across both regions.
Finnish President Alexander Stubb reaffirmed Finland’s commitment to strengthening technology and innovation partnerships with Kenya, noting the importance of digital cooperation in driving economic transformation.
Ruto arrives in Finland for state visit
The engagement took place during President William Ruto’s state visit to Finland, aimed at strengthening economic cooperation between Nairobi and Helsinki and expanding partnerships in technology, digitisation, clean energy and innovation.
President Ruto had arrived in Helsinki for the two-day state visit following an invitation from Finnish President Alexander Stubb, with both leaders holding discussions focused on trade, investment and shared prosperity.
“Arrived in Helsinki, Finland, for a two-day state visit at the gracious invitation of President Alexander Stubb,” Ruto said, adding that the visit would deepen economic ties and unlock new opportunities for job creation and investment.
Business outlook
The two countries further committed to positioning digital economy partnerships as a key driver of investment flows, with emphasis on scalable infrastructure, innovation ecosystems and regulatory cooperation to support sustainable growth in both markets.
The engagement reaffirmed a shared ambition to turn digital innovation into economic impact through stronger public-private collaboration.