President William Ruto has lauded Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) as the backbone of East Africa’s economic transformation, emphasizing their critical role in job creation, innovation, and regional growth.
Speaking during the opening of the 25th East African Community (EAC) MSMEs Trade Fair in Nairobi, President Ruto highlighted the sector as a key driver of prosperity not only for Kenya but for the entire region.
“This gathering is a compelling validation of micro, small, and medium enterprises that remain the pillar of our economies. They are the agents of job creation, drivers of innovation and anchors of industrial growth and the driving force of our shared prosperity, not just as a region, but also as a continent,” he said.
The President paid tribute to the visionary leadership that reinvigorated the East African Community 25 years ago through the signing of its founding treaty, noting that the region has since grown into a robust bloc of eight partner states, representing over 300 million citizens.
“This trade fair… the excitement, the optimism that I saw in their enterprises, and the partnerships that are being established… is a great encouragement that it was right 25 years ago. It is right today,” he added, highlighting the evolution of the fair from a marketplace for goods into a strategic platform for skills exchange, innovation, and structured dialogue.
President Ruto underscored the importance of harnessing the opportunities presented by the region’s youthful population, technological advancements, and emerging markets.
He also acknowledged the challenges posed by climate change, unemployment, and shifting global supply chains but emphasized that these same forces present unprecedented opportunities for innovation and economic growth.
“Our young population in particular positions the region to lead through digital innovation, creative enterprise, and a thriving knowledge economy. I see it every day in Kenya, and looking at the East African entrepreneurs that are here, I see it in their energy, in their passion and in the partnerships they are building with their colleagues across the region,” he said.
The President also highlighted key priorities for the trade fair, including digital transformation, equitable access to finance, expanded markets, and sustainable green enterprises.
He noted that these focus areas are critical to supporting MSMEs to grow, scale, and generate wealth, aligning with Kenya’s bottom-up economic transformation agenda.
“The conversations shaping the trade fair are ambitious, forward-looking and action-oriented, giving priority to digital transformation, equitable access to finance, expanded markets, and sustainable green enterprises to support MSMEs to grow, to scale up and to generate wealth,” he said.
As the 25th EAC MSMEs Trade Fair kicks off, participants from across the bloc are expected to forge partnerships, exchange skills, and explore innovative solutions that will strengthen the role of MSMEs as engines of economic growth and regional integration
