NAIROBI, Kenya, May 21-Italy has intensified its push into Kenya’s fast-growing digital economy, unveiling a national innovation pavilion at the inaugural AI Everything Kenya x GITEX Kenya exhibition in Nairobi.
The global technology event opened on Tuesday at the Sarit Expo Centre with conferences and workshops bringing together international artificial intelligence leaders, before shifting to the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) for the main exhibition.
At the KICC, the Italian National Pavilion, coordinated by the Italian Trade Agency (ITA), will serve as a platform linking Italian innovators with investors, institutions and businesses in Kenya’s expanding technology sector.
Italy said its participation aligns with the Mattei Plan, a strategy aimed at strengthening partnerships between Italy and African nations through investment and cooperation. Officials said the initiative supports Kenya’s Vision 2030 agenda and the country’s ongoing digital transformation drive under the National Digital Master Plan.
Kenya, often dubbed the “Silicon Savannah,” has increasingly attracted global technology investors due to its growing startup ecosystem and push toward digitised public services.
The Italian pavilion will showcase six startups and small and medium-sized enterprises, Aflabox, Balamb, CRMpartners, Eneron, Hcomm, and Metaphora Lab, presenting solutions across digital innovation and technology services.
The exhibition space is expected to be officially opened by Italy’s Ambassador to Kenya, Vincenzo Del Monaco, alongside officials from the Italian Trade Agency and representatives of the local business community.
Also participating is the E4Impact Foundation of Università Cattolica di Milano, which is promoting collaboration between academic institutions and African markets through its incubation programmes.
Organisers say the Kenyan edition marks a strategic expansion of the GITEX brand into East Africa, with more than 1,200 exhibitors and an estimated 35,000 visitors expected to attend.
The ITA Nairobi office has also established a dedicated Pitch Arena where Italian firms will present their technologies to investors and industry players, including 637 Capital, the Association of Startup and SMEs Enablers of Kenya (ASSEK), and Harmonic Innovation Group.
During the event, Harmonic Innovation Group announced plans to invest €50 million in African startups through its H.E.R.O. Acceleration Programme, alongside the launch of what it described as the first Italian incubator in Africa focused on climate technology and food systems.
