Thailand is stepping up its digital trade ambitions in Africa, with its Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP) leading a software-focused business mission to Nairobi that is already delivering results.
At this year’s Thailand-Kenya Business Matching and Digital Partnership forum, held in the Kenyan capital, 14 Thai firms met with more than 50 local tech companies in a bid to forge partnerships across software & ICT services.
The first day alone drew over 73 Kenyan entrepreneurs, with trade negotiations valued at over THB165 million, signaling a strong appetite for Thai digital solutions.
Kenya’s rising status as a digital hub
The event was formally opened by William Kabogo Gitau, Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy, underscoring Nairobi’s growing role as a regional innovation hub.
According to DITP Director-General Sunanta Kangvalkulkij, the initiative aligns with Thailand’s push to expand opportunities for service-sector businesses and SMEs amid global economic uncertainty.
Both sides emphasized building “resilient and globally competitive digital ecosystems through cross-border collaboration,” with discussions spanning ICT development, tourism, agriculture, and the creative economy. Kenya also invited Thai firms to invest in data centers and digital infrastructure, which are areas expected to see sustained growth across Africa.
Expanding Thai-Kenyan trade ties
The visit comes as Kenya is accelerating its digital transformation. Platforms such as Little, a homegrown super-app, highlight the rapid evolution of East Africa’s tech landscape, where services now span ride-hailing, payments, logistics, and entertainment, creating entry points for foreign tech providers.
The Nairobi meetings also reflect broader efforts to deepen Thailand-Kenya economic relations ahead of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2027. Both governments are considering reactivating the Joint Commission for Bilateral Cooperation to strengthen institutional alignment.
Trade discussions also extended beyond technology to include agricultural exports such as avocados, macadamia, and fresh flowers, as well as renewable energy and hospitality. Thai software firms, meanwhile, are exploring opportunities in hotel management systems, AI-driven marketing tools, and smart waste management solutions tailored to Kenya’s urban growth.
New opportunities in the green economy
Kenya’s parallel push into sustainability is also attracting attention. The recent launch of its national carbon registry has been described by Environment Cabinet Secretary Deborah Barasa as the “digital heart” of the country’s green economy.
The system is designed to boost transparency and investor confidence while positioning Kenya as a regional leader in carbon markets. For Thai businesses, this opens new avenues in clean energy, carbon credit development, and sustainability-linked trade.
Taken together, the DITP-led mission highlights Thailand’s evolving strategy of pairing digital exports with long-term investment in fast-growing markets. With Kenya offering a mix of tech dynamism, urban consumer growth, and green policy momentum, Thai firms are increasingly viewing the country as a gateway to Africa’s broader digital economy.
Teerin Julsawad