Mombasa is set to host the 5th Jumuiya Agribusiness and Blue Economy Investment Conference, scheduled to take place from November 28th to 30th. Organized by Mombasa County in collaboration with the Jumuiya ya Kaunti za Pwani (JKP), the conference aims to bring together small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and investors from various regions.
This marks the second time Mombasa is hosting such an investment conference, with the inaugural event taking place in 2018. Kilifi County hosted the second conference in 2019 in Malindi, while the 2020 event was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The third conference occurred in 2021 in Diani, Kwale County, and the fourth was hosted by Tana River County last year.
Emmanuel Nzai, CEO of JKP, emphasized Mombasa’s significance as the central hub of the coastal region, being the starting point for the economies of coastal counties due to the presence of the Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) and the blue economy. He highlighted the establishment of the Mombasa Investment Corporation as a significant step towards attracting investors, a process that JKP has been actively working on for the past five years to ensure collaboration among the six counties.
Nzai noted that Mombasa, Kilifi, Taita Taveta, and Tana River counties now have investment corporations and existing boards, showcasing these achievements to potential investors during the conference. He expressed the region’s readiness for business, emphasizing the availability of resources and streamlined processes to facilitate investments.
The CEO disclosed that invited investors have engaged in discussions with Governor Abdulswamad Nassir and his administration, and their presence at the conference will offer an opportunity to showcase their initiatives and needs to residents, SMEs, and the government.
Sahale Bawazir, CEO of Mombasa Investment Corporation, emphasized the importance of unity among coastal cities, stating that the conference’s main theme this year will focus on agriculture and the blue economy.
“We are the investment corporation in Mombasa and currently, we have other coastal counties following suit and having the investment corporation, this year’s main theme will be agriculture and the blue economy,” she said. About 1,000 people including investors, national and county government officials and other stakeholders from SMEs and delegates from different embassies are expected to attend the conference. “We will have an opportunity for the different Coastal counties to showcase the priority projects we have so that it is all very clear that we are very serious and we want to work together to open up the economy of coastal counties,” she said. Mombasa County executive member in the Department of Tourism Mohammed Osman said that the conference which will be held at the Mama Ngina Waterfront is expected to help the Mombasa entrepreneurs to realize which kind of business they can tap into within the region. “This is a great opportunity for traders, and tourists and an investment opportunity for everybody to come and see the Mombasa investment hub. Our main aim is to ensure that the young SMEs get opportunities in Mombasa County and across the coastal region counties,” he said.
