Adili Group, in partnership with ALN Kenya, convened a high-level gathering of global investors and industry leaders at The Future of Manufacturing and Investment Forum held at ALN House in Nairobi, positioning Kenya at the centre of Africa’s next industrial wave.
The forum brought together a distinguished mix of global capital players, government officials, financial institutions, manufacturers, diplomats, and technology innovators to advance dialogue around Africa’s industrial transformation and investment landscape.
Investors from China, Japan, Europe, the United States, and across East Africa’s manufacturing ecosystem attended the conference, underscoring growing confidence in Kenya’s role as a regional hub for industry, energy transition, and technology-driven production.
Opening the global dialogue, Hungary’s Ambassador to Kenya, Katalin Nyirati, highlighted the importance of international partnerships and innovation-led ecosystems in accelerating industrial transformation across emerging markets.
John Mwendwa, CEO of Invest Kenya, outlined the country’s investment outlook, emphasising Kenya’s competitiveness in attracting global manufacturers. Dr Kenneth Chelule, Director General of the Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA), stressed the strategic role of Special Economic Zones in enabling infrastructure development, policy alignment, and investor confidence.
William Zhou, Chairman of the Kenya Chinese Chamber of Commerce, pointed to rising capital flows into high-value manufacturing, mobility, and industrial infrastructure — reflecting expanding international interest in East Africa’s industrial growth.
The forum was officially opened by Chris Diaz, EBS, Executive Chairman of Adili Group, who called for agile, innovative leadership and coordinated collaboration across Africa to unlock manufacturing growth, attract global capital, and build sustainable industrial ecosystems.
Across panel discussions, senior leaders from finance, legal advisory, manufacturing, and energy sectors shared practical insights on governance, sustainability, and financing structures supporting industrial expansion.
Speakers including Karim Anjarwalla, Rosa Nduati-Mutero, Birju Sanghrajka of Standard Chartered Bank, Bimal Kantaria of Elgon Kenya, and John Okulo of KCB explored how financial innovation and sound governance can accelerate industrial competitiveness.
Further sessions led by Amyn Mussa, Daniel Ngumy, Joyce Njogu of the Kenya Association of Manufacturers, Matt Lloyd of AVA, and Nicholas Tatrallyay of Berkeley Energy examined policy frameworks, infrastructure readiness, and incentives necessary to strengthen Africa’s manufacturing ecosystem.
A forward-looking panel featuring Chris Diaz, Elizabeth Wasunna of Absa Bank Kenya, Carey Ngini of Bentworth Energy and MGAS, Vimal Shah of Bidco Africa, and Mary Mulili of UBA Kenya explored the intersection of technology, green energy, and capital investment in shaping the next generation of factories across the continent.
Recognising the digitisation of industrial operations, a specialised session by Willie Oelofse, Head of Adili Risk Advisory, and Mbabu Muturi, Head of Adili Cyber Services, addressed emerging risk and cyber resilience challenges facing manufacturers. The discussion reinforced the need for preparedness, digital safeguards, and robust governance structures as factories become increasingly interconnected.
The conference drew participation from leading banks, industrial manufacturers, energy companies, investment firms, diplomatic missions, and regulatory stakeholders, reflecting a collective commitment to advancing Africa’s industrial future.
Conversations extended into an active networking session, where participants explored cross-border partnerships spanning policy, technology, energy transition, and capital mobilisation.
“Africa’s manufacturing future will be shaped by leaders who collaborate across borders and sectors and invest in long-term growth,” Diaz said.
“This forum demonstrated the strength of partnerships in bringing together strategic investors, financiers, and industrialists to drive economic transformation across the region.”
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