Agina Urges Shift to Local Production, Job Creation at WCF Africa Summit

Kisumu Chamber of Commerce Chairman, Mr. Israel Agina, delivered a compelling appeal to global investors during the closing session of the World Chambers Federation (WCF) Africa Summit 2025 in Nairobi, urging them to prioritize Kenya as a destination for long-term, impact-driven investment.

His message was clear: the future of Kenya—and Africa at large—lies in local production, job creation, and economic self-sufficiency.

“We need a Kenya where we don’t depend on imported goods, but on goods made in Kenya,” Agina declared, capturing the attention of the summit’s 4,500 delegates from more than 70 countries. He emphasized the importance of building strong, locally-driven value chains that empower small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), reduce reliance on imports, and create meaningful employment opportunities—particularly for the country’s youth, who make up the majority of the population.

Agina underscored that foreign direct investment (FDI) should not just target established urban centers but extend to counties like Kisumu, where vast untapped opportunities exist.

He pointed to Kisumu’s strategic location along Lake Victoria and its recently refurbished port as gateways to regional trade and industrial growth. “Invest in our regions, partner with our people, and watch communities thrive,” he urged.

His address echoed the summit’s overarching theme, “Africa’s Global Future: Integrated, Innovative, and Sustainable,” which aimed to position Africa as a central player in the global economy through regional integration and sustainable development.

Hosted for the first time on African soil, the WCF Africa Summit marked a historic milestone, not just for Kenya but for the continent’s business and investment landscape.

Throughout the two-day event, delegates engaged in panel discussions, B2B networking, and capacity-building workshops designed to unlock the potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which is expected to increase intra-African trade by over 50% by 2035.

The summit also provided a platform for over 500 SMEs to connect with international partners and potential funders.

KNCCI President Dr. Erick Rutto and WCF Chair M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu echoed Agina’s sentiments, stressing the pivotal role of chambers of commerce in fostering grassroots economic growth.

They jointly highlighted the importance of empowering local businesses to access global markets, especially through innovative financing and technology adoption.

As the summit concluded, early estimates indicated potential trade and investment commitments exceeding Sh1 billion—a signal of confidence in Kenya’s future as an investment hub.

For Agina and other advocates of local enterprise, the true legacy of the summit will be measured not in deals signed, but in the factories built, the youth employed, and the communities transformed.