We welcome €102 million (approximately KSh 15.3 billion) in new investments under the EU-Kenya Digital Partnership to accelerate digital transformation, expand connectivity and create opportunities for our youth and businesses. We also welcome €37 million in EU support for the Blue Raman submarine cable’s Africa extension connecting Djibouti, Somalia, Kenya and Tanzania, which will strengthen connectivity, lower bandwidth costs and reinforce Kenya’s position as a leading regional digital hub. Held productive talks with Executive Vice-President of the European Commission, Henna Virkkunen, on deepening cooperation between Kenya and the European Union in trade, innovation and the digital economy. We reviewed the implementation of the EU-Kenya Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA), under which Kenya’s exports to the European Union have grown by more than 20 per cent since its entry into force, creating jobs and expanding opportunities for our farmers and manufacturers. We also welcomed progress under the EU-Kenya Digital Partnership, particularly on the Digital Dialogue and the Data Adequacy process, which will strengthen digital trade, attract investment and enhance Kenya’s position as a leading digital hub and the world’s 11th-ranked Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) destination. Our partnership with the European Union continues to unlock investment, drive innovation and advance shared prosperity.(William Samoei Ruto, PhD)