Seif Badawi: Kenya places technology at the forefront of investment… and Egypt is a key partner in building the digital economy
Seif Badawi, CEO of SWATX Technologies and Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications, emphasized the strategic importance of the ICT sector in Kenya following a series of high-level meetings with H.E. Abubakar Hassan Abubakar, Principal Secretary at Kenya’s Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry.
Badawi noted that the ICT sector is among the top five priority investment sectors in Kenya, reflecting its central role in driving economic growth and accelerating digital transformation. During the meetings, key investment opportunities across the ICT value chain were highlighted, including contact center services and outsourcing services, technical support and managed services, fintech and digital payment platforms, e-commerce ecosystems, as well as the expansion of digital infrastructure, including fiber networks, data centers, cloud services, and cybersecurity.
Badawi further explained that the main meeting took place within the framework of high-level Egyptian participation through the Egyptian Junior Businessmen Association (EJB) led by its Chairman Mohamed AbouBasha, along side a distinguished Egyptian private sector delegation representing multiple industries, reflecting the strong interest in expending economic cooperation and investment partnerships across African markets.
This meeting also brought together senior representatives from both the Egyptian and Kenyan sides. This included the presence of H.E. Ambassador Hatem Yousri Hosny, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Kenya; Ambassador Salwa El Mowafy, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs for African Affairs and Multilateral Organizations; Ms. Heba Salama, CEO of the COMESA Regional Investment Agency; and Mr. Kareem Hamdy, Commercial Counsellor and Head of the Economic and Commercial Office at the Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt in Kenya. From the Kenyan side, Mr. John Mwendwa, CEO of the Kenya Investment Authority, also attended, reflecting a high level of institutional coordination and collaboration between all parties.
He added that he held a one-on-one meeting with the Principal Secretary, during which they explored in greater depth the opportunities for cooperation in the ICT sector and discussed practical mechanisms to translate these opportunities into actionable partnerships and projects, supporting Kenya’s ambition to position itself as a regional hub for digital services.
In his capacity as CEO of SWATX Technologies, Badawi affirmed that the company is well-positioned to support these priorities by developing regional service delivery centers, providing managed services, operating cloud and infrastructure platforms, and implementing end-to-end digital transformation programs for both government and enterprise sectors.
Speaking in his role as Vice Chairman of the Chamber of Information Technology and Telecommunications, Badawi highlighted the strong capabilities of Egyptian companies to contribute to this vision. He noted Egypt’s growing position as a regional technology and outsourcing hub, supported by a large, skilled talent pool and proven expertise in delivering high-quality, cost-efficient services. He added: “Egyptian companies can play a pivotal role in supporting the development of digital infrastructure in Kenya, enabling fintech and financial inclusion solutions, and driving the growth of outsourcing and shared services centers.”
Badawi concluded by emphasizing that the strong diplomatic relations between Egypt and Kenya provide a solid foundation for building long-term strategic partnerships, contributing to mutual economic growth and positioning both countries as leading regional hubs in the digital economy.
