The partnership aims to reinforce cooperation between the two countries, which aim to leverage digital technologies to drive economic growth. 

Singapore and Kenya signed, Thursday (May 18), three agreements including a memorandum of understanding covering the digital economy. The agreements were signed during an official visit of Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to Kenya.  

On Twitter, Kenyan President Williams Ruto said the MoU on the digital economy will "facilitate cooperation on cybersecurity, digitization of government services and ICT capacity building.”

In Singapore, the digital sector is a key component of economic plans, and the sector has grown significantly in recent years. The Singaporean IT market was valued at $41.76 billion in 2021. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.9% to reach $61.06 billion by 2026, according to a recent report by Global Data.

Meanwhile, last year, Kenya launched a 10-year digital master plan -covering the 2022-2032 period- to align with global technological advances and strengthen its digital economy. The digital master plan identifies four key pillars: digital infrastructure, digital services, and data management as well as digital skills and stimulating digital innovation for entrepreneurship.

According to the Singaporean Prime Minister, the MoU will further the bilateral relationship between the two countries by targeting economic opportunities that will bolster shared prosperity.  

Samira Njoya