Kisumu will host the first business ecosystems summit in the country this September as the government moves to stimulate business growth across the country.
The summit organised by IMC People Limited in collaboration with the Lake Region Economic Bloc (LREB) is slated for September 1 and has attracted businessmen and entrepreneurs from across the globe.
According to LREB Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Victor Nyagaya, the event aims at unlocking the potential of networks and effectively navigating the shifts within various business landscapes.
Nyagaya said over 5, 000 delegates from the private and public sectors are expected to grace the inaugural summit which aims at providing mechanisms for organizations to leverage technology, research, business competence and effective collaborations in the marketplace.
Governors from the 14-member bloc, he added, have confirmed attendance with more delegates expected from other parts of the country, East Africa, and across the globe.
“We have done wide consultations within the LREB counties and our governors are ready for the summit,” he said.
Kisumu Governor Prof. Anyang Nyong’o who chairs the bloc, said he has written to his counterparts and development partners who have confirmed attendance.
Representatives from the Ministry of Trade and Investment (MITI) and other ministries, Senators, Members of Parliament, financial institutions, and development partners are also expected to attend the summit.
During the summit, a special focus will be made on fostering business ecosystems that center on shared sectors, missions, goals, and products.
This aims to optimize collaboration and unlock the collective potential of all stakeholders by empowering them to engage with a comprehensive ecosystem instead of dealing with individual entities separately.
Businesses that will be present are expected to find ways to harness creativity, collaboration and innovation to lower costs of production and find new customer acquisition strategies while attracting investments.
Kisumu County Executive Committee Member (CECM) in charge of Trade, Tourism, Industry and Marketing Faridah Salim said the summit was a milestone in showcasing what Kisumu has to offer.
“This comes at a time when as a county we are aggressively marketing Kisumu as an investment hub and tourist destination. This is going to help us immensely to reach that goal,” she said.
By Chris Mahandara
