The Kenyan government and Apple Inc are in talks to explore ways the tech giant can invest in the country. Talks between the government and Apple pick up after the Kenya-US business roundtable in San Francisco.
Currently, the talks are taking place via virtual meetings.
“Just had a fruitful follow-up online meeting with Apple following the recently concluded US-KE San Francisco Tech-Roadshow. Delighted to share that we engaged in promising discussions regarding Apple’s potential investment and expansion of it’s operations in Kenya.” wrote Eng. John Kipchumba Tanui, MBS Principal Secretary, State Department for ICT and Digital Economy.
Also in the meeting, was Alfred Ombudo K’Ombudo, the Principal Secretary State Department for Trade Kenya, Naomi Birika and Phobe Mshai, both of the State Department for Trade Kenya.
Apple was represented by Ali Khanafer, its Head of Government Affairs. Details of what was discussed are yet to be shared.
Apple Inc Potential Investments
In San Francisco, President Ruto had pitched Kenya as a prime investment destination for tech companies, saying: “If you set up in Kenya. Your African footprint is guaranteed.”
“Kenya is a full package investment destination; economically stable, entrepreneurial, secure, innovative with a favourable tax environment, skilled labour force, technological expertise, green energy credentials and a gateway for six undersea fibre-optic cables providing reliable data connectivity,” the president said.
The president welcomed Apple to work with the Government on the growth of Kenya’s innovation and start-up ecosystem. President Ruto also mentioned Apple was looking into Kenya’s green data centre potential. This is an area that Apple will look into tapping for achieving the company’s sustainability goals.
This was was confirmed by Apple’s CEO Tim Cook who mentioned the green data centres and possibility of setting up a developer’s academy in Kenya.
It was during this visit that the president announced a partnership between M-Pesa and Apple. The partnership is expected to further enhance M-Pesa’s global reach.
Today’s meeting shows steps to a possible partnership are being prepared.
