Nairobi to host top Indo-Africa ICT Expo

The event will bring together over 100 companies from India and Africa for the exhibition and conference and is likely to attract over 2,000 visitors with focus on Kenya and its neighboring countries - Uganda, Ethiopia, Tanzania, South Sudan, Burundi, Rwanda and Somalia.

The trade event will showcase next generation technology and innovations for today's hyper-connected world and will be a gateway for Indian products to access other markets and to have greater opportunities and expansion.

The event organised by the African countries, Telecom Equipment and Services Export Promotion Council (TEPC) was launched on Tuesday by India Minister of Communications and IT Shri Ravi Shankar Prasad and Kenya ICT Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, in the presence of a high level delegation from Kenya at New Delhi, India.

India has emerged as one of the prominent trade partners for Africa and both the regions have shown complementary for business to foster and grow.

Kenya on the other hand is already an ICT and innovation leader among sub-Saharan Africa peers as well as a gateway to East African market.

Having the largest sea port in Mombasa, the country is the largest incoming source of products by sea to the East African region from Arab countries, Indian sub-continent, Europe and Far East.

India and Kenya have growing trade and commercial ties with Kenya being an important trade and investment partner for India.

Bilateral trade amounted to Sh449bn in 2013- 2014, with India's exports to Kenya at Sh419bn; the balance of trade is heavily in India's favour.

India is Kenya's sixth largest trading partner and the largest exporter to Kenya.

ICT sector has been the major driver of economic growth in Africa over the last decade. The ICT sector is linked to economic growth with specific contributions to competitiveness, poverty reduction and productivity.