MOMBASA, Kenya—Belgium is seeking to deepen its economic partnership with Kenya, with trade, investment and the blue economy emerging as key areas of cooperation between the two countries.
Belgian Ambassador to Kenya Tom Neijens made the commitment during his first visit to Mombasa, where he toured the Close the Gap Hub at The Creek in Nyali and engaged with young entrepreneurs and innovators.
Neijens said Belgium was keen to strengthen partnerships that support economic development in Kenya, including initiatives that expand opportunities for businesses and young people.
He also highlighted the role of Belgian private-sector actors already working in Kenya, including initiatives providing training, technology and business opportunities to small enterprises and young entrepreneurs.
The ambassador said Belgium was also supporting cooperation in the blue economy, an area with growing importance for Kenya’s coastal region and its wider economic development.
One of the major academic partnerships currently being implemented is a 10-year Institutional University Cooperation programme involving the Technical University of Mombasa and Flemish academic institutions in Belgium.
The programme covers innovation and entrepreneurship, health, blue economy, data and technology, as well as gender, mental health and inclusion. It is being coordinated through VLIR-UOS, the Belgian organisation that supports partnerships between Flemish higher education institutions and institutions in developing countries.
At TUM, the partnership is designed to strengthen research, innovation and entrepreneurship while supporting the development of solutions relevant to Kenya’s coastal communities. Areas of focus include marine innovations, renewable energy, technology transfer and the development of businesses from university research.
The cooperation comes as Mombasa seeks to position itself as a centre for technology, innovation and blue-economy enterprise, with universities, private-sector organisations and international partners increasingly linking skills development with opportunities in the coastal economy.
The Close the Gap Hub at The Creek is part of that emerging ecosystem, providing space for entrepreneurship, technology, business development and innovation. The hub’s programmes support young entrepreneurs through training, incubation and access to investment opportunities.
Neijens’ visit comes early in his tenure as Belgium’s ambassador to Kenya. He recently took up the assignment and has also been appointed Belgium’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations offices in Nairobi, including UNEP and UN-Habitat.
The expanded cooperation places Mombasa within a broader Kenya-Belgium partnership that combines diplomacy, investment, technology, higher education and sustainable development, while giving greater attention to the economic potential of Kenya’s coastal and marine sectors.
