Eyeing East Africa, Estonia opens trade office in Nairobi
Estonia, a country located in northern Europe, has established its regional offices in Nairobi to scout for more public and private sector investments in Kenya and across East Africa.
Enterprise Estonia will facilitate investments ranging from agri-produce value addition, information technologies and waste water management while enhancing export access for Kenyan produce to the vast European markets.
‘’Enterprise Estonia is an Estonian institution whose goal is to support Estonian enterprises to do business across the world as well as attracting foreign investment to Estonia, ‘’ Estonia’s Ambassador at Large for Africa Daniel Schaer during an event to mark the official opening of Enterprise Estonia offices in Nairobi.
During the event, eight Estonian ICT firms announced their entry into Kenya eyeing new business from both the public sector and private industries.
“These Estonian companies are experts in developing seamless digital public services that have the potential to drive economic growth and improve the standard of living for the population. By streamlining processes and enhancing accessibility, these solutions are primed to usher in a brighter future for all.
“Furthermore, the innovative solutions offered by these companies are not only beneficial for the public sector but also for businesses. These technologies will allow companies to save money and establish profitable growth with greater ease,” Mr. Schaer said.
The opening of Nairobi office coincides with a three-day exhibition by the eight companies to showcase their products to local companies and public sector entities.
In September 2021, Estonian President Kersti Kaljulaid visited Kenya where he held talks with former President Uhuru Kenyatta and other captains of the industry.
President William Ruto’s administration has been actively wooing investors from the west with several top level engagements held with delegates from the United States, Germany, United Kingdom, and Italy recently
Estonia has heavily embraced digital systems in most functions and was among the pioneers of e-voting across the world.
The Estonian companies operate across various markets where they offer digital solutions for use by public and private sector entities with the potential to drive economic growth and improve the standard of living for the population.
By streamlining processes and enhancing accessibility, these solutions are primed to usher in a brighter future for all.
The Estonian companies currently in Kenya to explore business opportunities and who were at the event included Cybernetica, Nortal, Alldevice, Digital Nation, FOB Solutions, Finbite OÜ, Wisercat Software, and ADM Interactive, who offer solutions ranging from industrial maintenance management software, digital advisory services, front-office solutions, digital transformation services, and billing and invoice management solutions to business automation, electronic document management systems, and specialized applications.
Some other companies from the Eastern European country have already made their mark in the Kenyan market, offering their services and products to different entities.
For instance, Spacedrip installed an automated water treatment and reuse system at Uhuru Park in Nairobi, while Mondo is digitizing various subjects aimed at facilitating e-learning.
CoNurse App, on the other hand, is being piloted at Kenyatta National Hospital, providing voice-guided support and enabling experienced nurses to conduct and remember critical, complex, and infrequent procedures.
With Estonia’s track record of being a leader in e-government systems, Kenya and East Africa can expect more technological advancements, economic growth, and improved living standards from the collaboration between Estonian and Kenyan businesses and the public sector.
