Kenya partners with Lithuania to boost women and youth-led businesses

Vilnius CCIC is a network of Lithuanian business representatives and the community that unites almost 500 Lithuanian companies from different business sectors.

During a Women’s Entrepreneurship and Digital Literacy Conference in Nairobi, KNCCI President Dr. Erick Rutto hailed the deal as a milestone for supporting women and youth-led enterprises. 

"Opportunity without capability creates inequality. Our role is to ensure our entrepreneurs are equipped with the right skills and connected to the right markets to move from informal survival to scalable, sustainable growth," Rutto stated. 

He added that over 75 per cent of the population is below age 35, and women lead a significant portion of the country's 7.4 million MSMEs, which contribute up to 40 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Chief Guest at the event, Lithuanian MFA Vice Minister Vidmantas Verbickas highlighted Kenya as a vital partner in Africa, noting that the cooperation is built on three key priorities: strengthening skills for a digital economy, creating practical partnerships, and fostering long-term impact.

The Vice Minister noted that Lithuania’s approach is fully aligned with the European Union’s Global Gateway strategy, which promotes sustainable investment and digital transformation. 

"Lithuania sees Kenya as a very important partner in Africa. A country with strong economic potential, a dynamic private sector, and a clear vision for digital and economic transformation," Verbickas stated.

"Lithuania is committed to working with Kenya not only as a donor, but as a reliable partner in building resilient systems and supporting innovation."

The vice minister promised to extend ties between the two nations through more programmes and trade missions expected in the future.