Kenya IT firms to benefit from Sh100m fund

A man working on a computer. Kenyan information technology firms will benefit from a Sh118 million fund from International Trade Centre. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • It will also facilitate business-to-business events in Europe and Africa between international buyers and Kenyan companies.
  • The ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.

Geneva-based International Trade Centre (ITC) has launched a Sh118 million ($1.3 million) fund to boost the competitiveness of Kenyan information technology firms in offering services in the global market.

The three year project, which aims at improving the ability of Kenyan technology small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to offer business process outsourcing and other IT-related services in the international market, will be implemented through the Netherlands Trust Fund (NTF) III programme.

The funds, to benefit 33 SMEs, will also support training and advisory services on export marketing and access to finance.

It will also facilitate business-to-business events in Europe and Africa between international buyers and Kenyan companies.

“The NTF III programme will play an overall coordinating role to help stakeholders to network and exchange experiences with each other, as well as with other international networks, so that they can find new ideas and strength in numbers,” a statement from ITC indicated.

The ITC is the joint agency of the World Trade Organization and the United Nations.

The NTF III programme will also build the capacity of the Kenya Information Technology Outsourcing Services the industry’s association.