President William Ruto William Samoei Ruto has called for stronger collaboration between venture capital ecosystems in Kenya and Italy, saying innovation and capital will define the next phase of global economic transformation.
Speaking at the “Growing Together Through Partnership – How Venture Capital in Italy and Kenya Can Drive the Next Wave of Innovation” event at Palazzo Generali in Rome, President Ruto said Kenya is positioning itself as a leading investment destination through economic diplomacy and investor-friendly reforms.
He noted that Kenya’s foreign policy is anchored on translating global engagement into tangible economic opportunities, emphasizing that partnerships such as those with Italy are already delivering measurable outcomes.
‘The economic partnership between Kenya and Italy is deepening in practical and measurable ways. We are now collaborating globally, through trilateral AI cooperation with India, and which was formalised at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi,”he said.
Ruto highlighted ongoing cooperation between Kenya and Italy, including trilateral artificial intelligence collaboration with India, formalized at the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi, as well as expanded cooperation in education, research, and training.
He also pointed to major infrastructure and technology investments such as the Blue-Raman submarine cable by Telecom Italia Sparkle, which enhances Kenya’s digital connectivity with Europe and Asia.
The President further cited the ongoing transformation of the Luigi Broglio Space Centre into a hub for satellite AI and earth observation, describing it as a key milestone in advancing frontier technologies.
Ruto noted that Kenya is strengthening its investment environment through the Nairobi International Financial Centre, designed to provide global investors with a structured entry point into the country’s financial ecosystem.
He added that legal and policy reforms, including investment treaties, tax agreements, the Start-Up Act, and the forthcoming National AI Policy, are aimed at supporting innovation, protecting investors, and promoting high-growth enterprises.
