U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo recently led members of the President’s Advisory Council on Doing Business in Africa (PAC-DBIA) to Nairobi, where she announced various commercial deals with U.S. companies and a historic partnership with Kenya to facilitate data flows, empower digital upskilling, and harness the potential of AI. The partnership is the first-of-its-kind with an African nation that builds on the U.S. collaboration with partners and allies to promote the safe and responsible development and deployment of AI.

“The Biden Administration is all in on Africa,” said Raimondo. “I chose Kenya as my first official trip to Africa because of their leadership in the digital transformation and to demonstrate the U.S. business community’s commitment to commercial opportunities in Kenya and across the continent.”

Secretary Raimondo echoed this sentiment during a meeting with Kenyan President William Ruto, where she applauded his efforts in making Kenya Africa’s digital hub. The two also discussed opportunities to increase U.S.-Kenya collaboration on digital policy and greater alignment on approaches to artificial intelligence.

Secretary Raimondo also joined the AmCham Business Summit: U.S.-East Africa Trade & Investment Forum where she and Minister Eliud Owalo, Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communications, and the Digital Economy for Kenya, issued a joint statement on strengthening the digital economy, promoting innovation, and increasing digital trade and investment between the United States and Kenya. During the summit, Secretary Raimondo also announced private sector commitments and public-private partnerships on expanding access to critical internet infrastructure for communities in Nairobi, throughout Kenya, and across the African continent.

Secretary Raimondo also announced two Department of Commerce initiatives; a collaboration with African partners on data protection, and an African Women Digital Leaders Training program. The latter program will bring the next generation of women tech leaders in Africa to Washington, D.C., and Silicon Valley for training, networking, and mentorship with the U.S. tech sector.

During her visit, Secretary Raimondo met Kenya’s Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade and Industry Rebecca Miano, and discussed opportunities to strengthen bilateral commercial ties across various sectors, including the green energy and clean technology sectors, of which Kenya is a continental leader. She also met with additional trade and digital ministers from across Africa and discussed ways to foster an inclusive, equitable, ethical, and sustainable digital future for both the U.S. and the global community.

The Secretary’s trip builds on the Department of Commerce-wide Africa strategy announced by Deputy Secretary Graves last fall at the AGOA forum in South Africa and served as a foundation for a shared commitment to strengthen the U.S.-Kenya commercial and investment relationship as the U.S. prepares for President Ruto’s State visit to the United States this month.