Kenya is set to welcome a series of prestigious international meetings, solidifying its status as a premier destination for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE). The Cabinet, chaired by President William Ruto, has approved the hosting of the Blueinvest Africa Forum in July 2024 and the World Congress of the International Union of Forest Research Organization (IUFRO) in August 2024. These conferences align with Kenya’s foreign policy objectives, focusing on climate change adaptation and the blue economy.
James Mwaura, CEO of Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), applauded the initiative, emphasizing that these events will enhance Kenya’s ranking as a preferred MICE destination. The MICE sector is pivotal to Kenya’s economic growth, with ambitious plans to increase international MICE visitors from 110,000 in 2015 to one million by 2030, raising MICE earnings to Ksh. 40 billion (USD 370 million).
Kenya will also celebrate World Kiswahili Day with East African Community (EAC) Member States from July 5-7, 2024, showcasing the cultural significance of the language. This adds to Kenya’s successful track record of hosting major events like the Africa Climate Summit and the Africa Heads of State Summit for the IDA21 replenishment.
According to the International Congress and Conventions Association (ICCA), Kenya ranked third in Africa in 2023, hosting 21 conferences. This is a significant leap from ninth place in 2022. Globally, Kenya climbed to the 58th position in 2023, while Nairobi rose to the 111th position based on the number of meetings held.
Mr. Mwaura highlighted that such summits are crucial for raising Kenya’s visibility and attracting more MICE business, reinforcing the sector’s role in the Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda (BETA). The recent success and upcoming events reflect Kenya’s growing influence and strategic positioning in the global MICE industry.
As Kenya continues to rise in the global MICE rankings, these efforts demonstrate the country’s commitment to fostering economic growth and international collaboration through high-profile conferences and events.
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